Altarpiece Group – Antwerp, First Half of the 16th Century

Carved oak, traces of polychromy
Branded with the Antwerp hand mark on the hat of the central figure
31.5 × 39 × 6.5 cm

This finely carved oak group, with remnants of its original polychromy, is a rare surviving fragment of an Antwerp altarpiece from the first half of the 16th century. It is authenticated by the branded Antwerp hand mark—a guarantee of quality issued by the Guild of Saint Luke, certifying artworks made under its supervision.
The scene likely illustrates an episode from the life of Saint Renelde, accompanied by her two loyal companions, Grimoald and Gondulphus. At the center stands a man in an apron, flanked by a woman with an elaborate hairstyle, seen from behind, and another male figure in partial armor, wearing only one shoe. The figures are rendered with delicately expressive faces, dynamic poses, and richly detailed garments, all characteristic of Antwerp’s Mannerist style around 1530.
Under Habsburg rule, Antwerp became a leading center for the production of altarpieces—renowned for their quality craftsmanship, serial production methods, and extensive distribution across Europe. Unlike the more common depictions of the Passion of Christ or the Life of the Virgin, this scene presents a lesser-known local saint, enhancing the group’s uniqueness.
This sculptural panel was likely intended for private devotion in a domestic setting or oratory, reflecting the deeply personal forms of piety that emerged in the Netherlands during the Renaissance. It stands today as a rare witness to the artistic richness of Antwerp’s workshops, and to the religious objects dismantled or dispersed during the iconoclastic crises and religious wars of the 16th century.