Stephan Lochner – Three Saints Part 6 National Gallery UK

The composition presents three figures arranged against a shimmering gold background, typical of devotional panels from the late medieval period. The central figure is crowned and holds a staff, positioned slightly forward relative to the flanking saints. She wears a crimson robe lined with green, creating a striking visual contrast that draws immediate attention. Her expression is serene, almost detached, her gaze directed towards an unseen point beyond the viewer.
To the left stands a bearded man, draped in a vibrant green cloak over a purple undergarment. He holds an open book, suggesting scholarship or prophetic utterance. A small angel, clad entirely in white, hovers near his feet, its wings delicately rendered and adding a sense of ethereal presence. On the right, another figure with reddish-brown hair stands in a flowing white robe edged with red. This individual gestures with one hand while holding an object – likely a chalice – in the other, indicative of their role as a dispenser or facilitator of divine grace.
At the base of the panel, scattered across the ground, are several stylized depictions of what appear to be broken pottery shards. These fragments introduce a layer of symbolic complexity. Their fragmented nature might allude to fragility, loss, or perhaps even persecution – a visual echo of suffering endured for faith. The presence of a small bird perched near the right-hand saint further contributes to this sense of understated narrative; its posture suggests alertness and vigilance.
The overall effect is one of dignified solemnity. While the figures are presented with a degree of naturalism in their rendering, particularly evident in the modeling of facial features and drapery folds, they remain elevated by the gilded background and the symbolic objects they hold. The color palette – the intense greens, reds, and golds – contributes to an atmosphere of richness and spiritual significance. The artist’s choice to depict these figures against a flat, unmodulated gold surface emphasizes their otherworldly nature, suggesting that they exist in a realm beyond earthly concerns.