Saint Augustine

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a religious scene where a bishop presents a pierced heart to a divine figure in the sky. The bishop is adorned in traditional ecclesiastical clothing and stands within a decorated room with a wooden canopy and books. He holds an arrow-pierced heart aloft, and speech scrolls are depicted coming from both figures' mouths. The divine figure floats on a cloud, surrounded by a halo, and holds a crucifix. Below, a congregation of people in medieval attire, including monks and townspeople, looks up in reverence. The setting includes a medieval church with a bell tower. The style is reminiscent of late Gothic religious illustrations.