1) Introduction

Late Medieval painting in Sardinia can be defined using just a single word that originally came from Spain: Retable. This title derives from the Latin term “Retro tabula Altaris” which means “Table behind altar.” But what is a Retable? It’s an altar piece composed of numerous decorated panels that, with its rich embellishments, adorned the church’s central altar. However, its function is not simply ornamental: it is above all a great liturgical illustration that, using iconographic depictions, exalts the figures of the Lord, the Madonna and the Saints. It was first introduced in Sardinia in the second half of the 14th century.

The Saint George Retable is 8.60 meters high and 6.40 meters wide. It was executed entirely on wood panel using tempera paints, with several layers of oil repainted over the original throughout the course of the centuries, and is an example of the Gothic-Aragonese stile recognizable by its inlaid wooden frames gilded with gold leaf.

It is composed of over 50 separate panels and one central niche anchored together by an internal structure, currently metal but originally made of wood. Since its restoration in 1995 it has been in the care of a chapel museum built expressly for this purpose inside of the parish church of “Santa Maria of the Angels.”

We do not have any concrete information concerning the artist, who traditionally has been labeled “Maestro of Perfugas,” but there is a clear correspondence with the works of the Maestro of Ozièri and a strong influence from the major artists of the Italian Renaissance, such as Raphael.

The Saint George Retable, together with a series of ex-votos, statues and silver, constitutes the exhibition layout of the chapel museum of Perfugas, part of the “Integrated Museum System” of the Tempio-Ampùrias Diocese.

2) Predella

The main elements characterizing the Saint George Retable are:

THE PREDELLA: part inserted below the niche in which the altar is set.

The first level to the left displays a Door which originally featured St. Peter. Following along we see: St. Francis, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Paul.

The second level, at the height of the altar, from left to right, features the four Church Doctors: St.  Ambrose, St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Augustine and a depiction of the Pietà at center. 

3) Subject

THE SUBJECT: composed of a series of scenes principally depicting some of the most important moments from the life of Jesus, Mary and several Saints.

The first level, starting from the bottom left, features: The Annunciation, St. George slaying the dragon or rather the dedication to the church, St. Gavinus, given that Perfugas belonged to the Turritana Diocese, and the Visitation.

On the second level, going from left to right, you can find: the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple  and the Resurrection.

The third level displays: the Pentecost, the Ascension of Jesus, the Assumption and the Coronation of the Virgin.

The center prominently features, from top to bottom: the Crucifixion which is the largest painting of the Retable and the Sacred Family with St. Anna.

4) Niche

THE NICHE is the compartment featured in the center of the altarpiece and currently houses the wood statue of St. George slaying the dragon. Its dimensions and painted blue interior, the color associated with the Madonna, indicate that it most likely originally housed a statue of the Madonna and baby, usually present in retables, but absent without a trace here.

The small panels at the sides feature the deacon saints Cosmas and Damian above and, below, the four Evangelists: St. Mark depicted with a lion, St. Matthew accompanied by an angel, St. John and finally St. Luke depicted with an ox.

Two arms protrude from the sides at the base of the niche that were probably used to support the flags and banners on the occasion of the most important celebrations dedicated to the cult of the church of St. George.

5) Polvarolo

THE POLVAROLO is the external frame curving forward, almost as if desirous to protect the paintings from dust, that encloses the Retable on three sides. Depicted are saints, martyrs and prophets related to popular worship.

Beginning from the polvarolo to the left, you will find, from bottom to top: St. John the Baptist, St. Andrew, St. Thomas  and St. Bartholomew.

In the polvarolo above only the panels flanking the Crucifixion are recognizable: St. Barbara to the left and to the right St. Agnes.

The polvarolo to the right features, from top to bottom: St. Michael Archangel, St. Roch, St. John and the Patron, about whom we don’t have any concrete information, but based on his attire we may guess that he was a priest, or at least an ecclesiastical figure.

6) Notes on the Church of St. George

This Retable was originally the altar for the country church of St. George, built between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. The church is located about 3km from the village center and has a façade built from blocks of red trachyte featuring a rose window in its upper portion and  the statues of St. Peter, St. George and St. Paul sculpted in the portal. Inside there is a single nave, more than 12 meters wide, divided into 4 bays with 3 pointed arches. The Retable used to be in the Presbytery of the church where today a photographic copy has taken its place.