Icon of Saints John the Baptist and Minias

Bicci di Lorenzo's Icon of Saints John the Baptist and Minias, painted around 1401 for the Legion of Honor museum, pairs Florence's patron saint with the early Christian martyr venerated at San Miniato al Monte. The pairing reflects specifically Florentine devotional priorities Altarpieces featuring rows of standing saints served both liturgical and devotional functions, identifying the church's patron saints and giving worshippers specific objects for personal prayer.

The two saints stand with their identifying attributes in a balanced devotional composition, rendered in Bicci di Lorenzo's reliable workshop manner with gold ground and the clear, workmanlike technique of the family enterprise.