Bernardo Daddi – Saint Paul National Gallery of Art (Washington)

The composition presents a solitary figure dominating the vertical space. He stands centrally, his posture conveying both dignity and solemnity. The background is a flat, gilded surface, which intensifies the focus on the individual. Above his head, inscribed within an architectural frame, are letters that appear to be abbreviations of a name.
The man’s attire consists of a simple tunic and cloak, rendered in muted pink and green hues. These colors contribute to a sense of austerity and spiritual devotion. He holds a book in his left hand, pressed close to his chest – a clear symbol of knowledge and scripture. In his right hand, he grasps a sword, its blade extending downwards along the length of his body. This juxtaposition of a book and a weapon suggests a complex interplay between intellectual pursuits and potential conflict or martyrdom.
At the base of the composition, a procession of figures is visible. They are depicted in miniature, their faces largely indistinct, and they appear to be engaged in some form of ritualistic movement. Their varied colors – reds, blues, yellows – add a touch of vibrancy to the lower register, but their small scale reinforces the central figure’s dominance.
The overall effect is one of restrained emotion and symbolic weight. The artist has employed a hierarchical arrangement, emphasizing the importance of the individual through his size and placement within the scene. The flatness of the background and the stylized rendering of the figures suggest an emphasis on spiritual meaning over naturalistic representation. There’s a deliberate lack of depth, which contributes to a sense of timelessness and reinforces the figures symbolic role as a conduit between the earthly and divine realms.