St. Vitus cooked in oil

77 x 43 cm

The two companion panel paintings (55.106, 55.107) were originally painted on both sides and belonged to a movable wing of a winged altarpiece. The verso of each panel was later sawed off. There is not enough information to determine whether the episodes from the legends of St. Vitus and St. Nicholas appeared on the same or opposing sides of the altarpiece wing. Both depictions were extensively overpainted. Once these additions removed, it became clear that entire faces were missing in the St. Vitus scene. The intentional damage and gouged eyes indicate the altarpiece fell victim to the iconoclasm of the Reformation.

Provenance

Ipolyi Collection. ‘131. St John cooked in oil. Oil painting on a wood panel. Early 16th century; German school. Extensively overpainted and cracked.’ (Lakatos-Balla 280)

Restauration

Dezső Varga (both panels were transferred to new supports); Ildikó Kákai Szabó, 1970-71 (removal of overpainting, new touch ups).

Bibliography

• Boskovits Miklós-Mojzer Miklós-Mucsi András: Az esztergomi Keresztény Múzeum képtára (Budapest, 1964. Akadémiai Kiadó), 145.
• Radocsay Dénes: A középkori Magyarország táblaképei. Budapest 1955, 334. –
• Magyarország műemléki topográfiája I. Esztergom 1. Esztergom műemlékei (összeállította: Genthon István; Budapest 1948), 49.
• Kalauz a Bihar vármegyei és Nagyváradi Régészeti és Történelmi Egylet Múzeumához. Nagyvárad 1898., 131.