Saint Bartholomew

The present alabaster figure of St Bartholomew - here depicted holding a book in a girdle binding and a knife, the latter a symbol of his martyrdom - probably once formed part of a large altarpiece with individual saints standing in niches. Stylistically, it seems to be closest to works created in the eastern Netherlands, possibly Guelders. The distinctive long face and relatively close-set eyes recall several of the saints in a wood relief of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in the Aartsbisschoppelijk Museum, Utrecht (loc. cit.), and a standing figure of St Anthony Abbot in the Catharijneconvent (van Vlierden, loc. cit.) also has a similar facial type, although the more angular drapery does not correspond to the present figure. For a Netherlandish alabaster figure of St Bartholomew from circa 1400, see A. Huysmans, La sculpture des Pays-Bas méridionaux et de la Principauté de Liège, no. 25, pp. 70-71.