Altarpiece of Saint Anthony the Abbot

The Master of Rubió, a Catalan Gothic painter named after the town of Rubió in Catalonia, created this altarpiece dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot around 1367. Anthony, the Egyptian desert father, was among the most widely venerated saints in medieval Catalonia, invoked as protector of livestock and healer of ergotism (known as 'Saint Anthony's fire'). The altarpiece exemplifies the rich tradition of Catalan Gothic panel painting, which blended French and Italian influences with a distinctly local decorative sensibility.

Tempera and gold on panel in the characteristic Catalan retable format with a central figure flanked by narrative scenes. The bold outlines, vivid colors, and flat patterning of textiles reflect the Catalan Gothic preference for decorative impact over spatial illusionism.