Metropolitan Museum of Art: Analysis of the Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve

During the Middle Ages, altarpieces were commonly adorned with images of religious figures, either depicting scenes from the Bible -- usually of the life of Jesus or Mary -- and various saints. "An altarpiece is a carving, painting, sculpture, screen or decorated wall made for a Christian church altar, the table at which mass is said… generally showing scenes relating to the life of the central figure. These are presented in chronological order and can be read like a comic strip" (Pioch 2002). The oil-on-wood altarpiece found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art entitled The Life and Miracles of Saint Godelieve was commissioned by the Guild of the Load Bearers in Bruges for their chapel. Godelieve, a saint specific...

According to the information provided by the Met on the work, the first panels shows her giving food from her parent's larder to the poor, but the food is transformed into wood when a servant 'catches' her in the act. The center panel on the left also shows her giving away food during a feast, which is replenished for the revelers by the angels so they will not be aware of Godelieve's actions. The third shows her being married off by her parents to a wealthy landowner. The fourth shows the saint being accused of witchcraft and the final panels shows…