“This painting of Saint Anthony is the reverse of a larger work, offering a glimpse into late 15th-century devotional art with its meticulous detail and symbolic imagery.”
This small panel painting, depicting Saint Anthony, is the reverse side of another work, likely part of a devotional diptych or triptych. Here, the saint stands in a landscape, holding his characteristic T-shaped staff and accompanied by a pig, his traditional attribute. The artist, known as the Master of the View of Saint Gudula, was active in Brussels during the late 15th century, a period when Early Netherlandish painters were celebrated for their meticulous detail and rich color. The work captures the quiet contemplation of the saint, inviting viewers to consider his solitary life and spiritual devotion. The careful rendering of the drapery and the serene expression on Saint Anthony's face are typical of the era, reflecting a focus on both naturalism and religious narrative.
- Artist
- Master of the View of Saint Gudula
- Date
- 1467
- Medium
- Oil on panel
- Location
- Bowes Museum
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The T-shaped staff, a symbol of Saint Anthony’s monastic order.
The small pig at the saint’s feet, his traditional companion.
The detailed landscape receding into the background.
The saint’s contemplative expression.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Saint Anthony (verso) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Master of the View of Saint Gudula
This enigmatic Early Netherlandish painter, active in Brussels, is known for his detailed religious scenes and portraits of church patrons.
Further Works by Gudula
Christ Before Pilate (recto)
1467 · Bowes Museum
God the Father (recto)
1467 · Bowes Museum
Saint Augustine (verso)
1467 · Bowes Museum
St Ambrose (verso)
1467 · Bowes Museum
The Adoration of the Magi (recto)
1467 · Bowes Museum
The Agony in the Garden (recto)
1467 · Bowes Museum
The Family of Zebedee (verso)
1467 · Bowes Museum
The Resurrection (recto)
1467 · Bowes Museum
More works to explore
Beyond Gudula: works from the same years.
Same era · 1450s–1480s
Christ Child with a Walking Frame
Hieronymus Bosch · 1480 · Kunsthistorisches Museum
Same era · 1450s–1480s
Virgin and Child with an Angel
Sandro Botticelli · 1470 · Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Same era · 1450s–1480s
The Annunciation
Johann Koerbecke · 1457 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1450s–1480s
A Bear Walking
Leonardo da Vinci · 1477 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1450s–1480s
The Lamentation
Albrecht Dürer · 1477 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1450s–1480s
Madonna and Child
Giovanni Bellini · 1470 · Musée Fesch
Same era · 1450s–1480s
Adoration of the Christ Child
Workshop of Andrea della Robbia · 1479 · Art Institute of Chicago
