Originally believed to be a painting of the wedding of English king Henry VI (who ruled from 1422 to 1461), the groom was later determined to be a saint when a halo was revealed during cleaning. The identity of the saint has not yet been determined. The painting depicts a wedding ceremony performed outside of an elaborate church with several men and women in attendance. The couple faces one another as a bishop lays a piece of fabric over their clasped hands. This is the stole, a sash worn by a priest or bishop as a symbol of his authority to perform sacred Christian rites. The clasped-hands ritual evolved from both ancient Roman ceremonies and Germanic rituals and is related to taking an oath—similar to a handshake. Wrapping the stole or a cloth around the couple’s joined right hands is still performed in some traditions. 

Once-known Flemish artist, Marriage of a Saint. Oil on wood panel, about 1475–1500. 37 1/4 × 34 7/8 in. (94.6 × 88.6 cm). Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, 1926.74. On view in Gallery 19.

Image Description: The painting shows a wedding scene with a group of people dressed in Renaissance clothing standing closely together. In the center, a man and a woman face each other, holding hands. A Catholic bishop dressed in richly decorated robes and a jeweled, peaked hat stands between them. He holds a ribbon of brown fabric that drapes over the couple’s joined hands. The man on the left wears a long red robe with gold details. The woman on the right wears a brown-and-gold gown with long sleeves. Her hair is long and light brown, and she wears a gold crown. Behind and beside them stand several other people, both men and women, wearing clothing in red, green, blue, and gold tones. Most of them are looking at the central couple. The background shows a large building decorated with columns, arches, and carved statues, and there is a blue sky and green hills in the distance.