Sculpture
Saint Andrew
mid 13th century
carved and polychromed wood
Please, you use earphones to not disturb other visitors
Until recently, the sculpture was identified as Saint Elijah, but recent studies recognize it as the representation of Saint Andrew, because, according to medieval iconography, which did not include the attribute of the big cross in the modern age, the Saint carried a small cross in hand. In sculpture the presence of the void in the left fist supports this hypothesis. The Saint is dressed according to the Byzantine tradition: a long tunic close with a wide strip around the waist, with the cape falling from the left shoulder, however you can grasp an unprecedented naturalistic attention in the meticulous definition of traits.
Chronologically the work is dated to the mid-13th century, at a time when the Byzantines repetitive modules blend with modern Gothic characters.
