Saint Anthony the Abbot with St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian, 1565 - 1571

The work was executed for the high altar of the church of Sant’Antonio Abate in Torcello, which was abolished and demolished in the Napoleonic period. In the absence of documentary information, the painting was dated on the basis of a stylistic analysis and it was assigned to the period between 1565 and 1571. The recent restoration has permitted a recovery of the vibrant tone of the original colours, removing any remaining doubts as to the authorship of the painting.
St. Anthony looks down from his niche, a contrast emphasised by the way the figures are placed in the setting. They wear a look of concentration on their faces, but the jewel-like palette prevails over any attempt to capture their psychology; the painter’s juxstaposition of colours and his love of contrast are crucial to the overall composition.