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The represented saints in this early polyptych by Ugolino di Nerio are, from left to right, Sts Francis, Andrew, Paul, Peter, Stephen and Louis of Toulouse.
Six Christian saints occupy arched panels on both sides of the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus, as angels peer down from above. Jesus reappears in the centre of the upper tier, surrounded by Hebrew prophets. The rounded panels and triangular pinnacles of the painting suggest the architecture of its original location - it was made for the altar of a church. Altarpieces like this one, with gold backgrounds that would have reflected flickering candlelight, were designed to encourage churchgoers in their devotions.
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