First, listen to the 1 min, 50 sec audio clip about the life of St Margaret of Antioch here on the Victoria & Albert Museum website. Then, view each of the images of the life of St Margaret below.
The St Margaret Altarpiece, Northern Germany (early 16th century), now at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London
Altarpiece made of painted and gilded oak
The St Margaret Altarpiece, Northern Germany (early 16th century), now at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London
Explore more detailed images of the altarpiece on this website. You can also listen to a detailed, three-minute audio description of the altarpiece on the Victoria & Albert Museum website.
Church of St Mary, Tarrant Crawford, Dorset, England (early 14th century)
Fourteen-scene painted series of the life of St Margaret
Scene 1: St Margaret, spinning from a distaff, with her nurse.
Scene 2: The provost Olibrius and his attendant observe St Margaret.
Scene 3: St Margaret before the provost, who questions her about marriage.
Scene 4: St Margaret is imprisoned; a crowd observes.
Scene 5: St Margaret refuses to worship idols.
Scene 6: St Margaret is scourged.
Scene 7: St Margaret before the provost again.
Scene 8: St Margaret is hung up by her hair and tortured.
Scene 9: St Margaret is placed in a great vessel of water in order to be drowned. The water appears to be boiling.
Scene 10: St Margaret is pushed into a fire and burned with brands.
Scene 11: Swallowed by the devil in the form of a dragon, St Margaret emerges unharmed by making the sign of the cross. An angel watches over in the top right corner, and others observe as well.
Scene 12: St Margaret chastises another, blacker demon.
Scene 13: Mostly destroyed but probably the execution of St Margaret, who appears to be kneeling.
Scene 14: Destroyed but likely St Margaret’s ascent to heaven.
Dante’s Church: Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, Florence, Italy (early to mid 15th century)
Predella painting by Domenico di Michelino
Narrative of St Margaret’s life on predella (below the large, main painting), Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, Florence, Italy
Predella with life of St Margaret, Santa Margherita dei Cerchi, Florence, Italy
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
