Saint John the Evangelist

This is a fragment from a polyptych, a type of altarpiece comprising many panels. The unusual asymmetrical shape links it to an example – now divided among different collections – that showed the Virgin and Child at centre, flanked by four saints. This pane was at far right: across the distance, John and the Christ Child once gazed intently at each other. The saint holds an elaborately bound bible secured with clasps.