Martyrdom of a saint

This predella panel is similar to three others that have been attributed to both Bicci di Lorenzo and Stefano d 'Antonio di Vanni. The first, currently attributed to Stefano d'Antonio di Vanni, depicts The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew and is now at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston (inv. no. P27w24). The other two are attributed to Bicci di Lorenzo: The Nativity at the Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama (inv. no. 1996.3), and The Baptism of Christ, at the Museo Civico Amedeo Lia, La Spezia, Italy (inv. no. 208). Although their size and shared floral motifs and punched designs suggest they may have been part of a single predella, this hypothesis has yet to be confirmed. Compositionally, this panel is also very similar to yet another painting by Bicci di Lorenzo of The Flaying and Execution of Saint Bartholomew, last at auction in 1998 (Christie's, London, 24 April 1998, lot 120). Both panels depict a similar figure at right, returning his sword to its sheath, and a man with a large shield next to him. Both decapitated saints are seen kneeling over, reaching their hands to their necks, and their newly dismembered heads on the ground before them, and a group of figures at left, in the present painting a king, gesturing towards him.

Bicci di Lorenzo, the son of Lorenzo di Bicci, is documented as working in Florence circa 1370-1427. He inherited his father's workshop and became successful in his own right, securing many prestigious commissions. Stefano d'Antonio di Vanni was first recorded as an apprentice in Bicci's workshop in 1420, over time rising in the ranks and becoming a close collaborator with the older master. Due to their close relationship, it is not surprising this group of panels have been varyingly thought to be by both artists.