St. Anthony Abbot
1458
Here we see St. Anthony Abbot taking a knee in a lush, dark meadow sprinkled with tiny flowers—a classic 'millefleurs' backdrop that makes the saint pop. He sports a golden halo glowing behind his bald head and a thick, grey beard, looking like he's been out in the wilderness for a while. In his hand, he clutches a wooden staff with a bell attached, which he historically rang to ward off evil spirits. Filippino Lippi, a star of the Florentine Renaissance, gives the saint's heavy purple and brown robes a wonderful sense of weight and texture, making this holy figure feel surprisingly grounded and real.
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