St. Augustine

Recognized as one of the early fathers of the Catholic Church, St. Augustine of Hippo was a prolific writer, whose works continue to influence modern-day theological discussions. In this panel, Augustine is shown in the process of writing a manuscript of De Trinitate as a vision of the Holy Trinity appears in the sky outside his window. His quill pens and bottle of ink are prominently displayed, and the ruling lines on the manuscript pages, which helped in the placement of the text, are readily apparent as well. The artist, known only as the Master of Grossgmain, eschews mathematical perspective in favor of a complex visual rhythm of angular furniture and curved folds of drapery, an example of a style popular near Salzburg during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.