Saint Arnold of Soissons and Saint Godeleva, ca. 1440 - ca. 1460

We recognise the saints portrayed here from their attributes. In the panel on the left we see Arnold of Soissons, the patron saint of beer brewers (inv. 1958-N-1). In his right hand he holds the stick with which the beer is stirred. He is portrayed in military dress and wears a bishop’s mitre. Standing next to him is St Godelieve, the patron of Gistel, with the cloth used to strangle her still around her neck. Her husband ordered her death because she took food to the poor. On the right panel we see St Livinus, preacher and patron saint of Ghent (inv. 1958-N-2). Next to him is St. Margaret of Antioch. She too was tortured for her faith. In prison she fought with the devil who appeared in the shape of a dragon. The two oak panels probably came from a domestic altar. The style and size form a link with fifteenth-century Flemish miniature painting.