Sieben Heilige

Seven Saints

This painting and its companion panel, on display nearby, came from the Palazzo Medici in Florence. They may once have been installed above doors.

In the centre, John the Baptist sits between Cosmas and Damian, the physician saints and patrons of the Medici family (Medici means 'doctors'). On the far left is Francis. His stigmata (impressions of the wounds of Christ) are indicated in gold. Next to him is Lawrence with the grill on which he was martyred. On the far right is Peter Martyr with the hatchet, one of the instruments of his martyrdom, and Anthony Abbot with his hermit's staff.