Saint Ambrose with Ambrosius van Engelen

Artist: Albrecht Bouts (Dutch, 1451 - 1549)

Original Dimensions: 29 1/4" x 9 5/8"

Location: National Gallery of Art, London

About Artwork: (Probably 1520) "Two men are crammed into this long, thin painting which was once the right wing of a triptych (a painting in three parts). In front is the donor. He wears the white habit of a Premonstratensian canon; the mitre (headdress) in front of him shows that he is a mitred abbot. Behind him is Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in the fourth century. ‘Moderation in all things’ is written on the back of the panel in Latin – a popular motto, and one used by at least two Premonstratensian abbots. Ambrose, however, was not a common name in the Netherlands, nor was he a widely venerated saint. There can be little doubt that the donor is Ambrosius van Engelen, Abbot of Park, just south of Leuven. The panel seems to be the work of more than one artist: the faces are different in both style and quality, and this cannot be fully explained by the donor’s face being very damaged and much restored. The saint’s face is close to the type often used by Albrecht Bouts." - (National Gallery of Art, London)