Berthold Sacramentary, folio 108v

The picture shows folio 108v. It contains a half-page in-text miniature depicting the Martyrdom of St Bartholomew. The iconography in this miniature is Romanesque, characterised by rigid symmetry, the saint's frontal pose and hieratic calm.

Saint Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, was martyred in Albanopolis, Armenia, around the 1st century AD. Tradition states he was flayed (skinned) alive and then beheaded by order of King Astyages after converting the king's brother and local pagans to Christianity.

Saint Bartholomew's feast day is August 24 (see August in the calendar).

The folio contains embroidered repairs.