Altarpiece dedicated to Saint Margaret

In the 15th century, a city like Vic, with such an important cathedral and episcopal see, must have had several painters' workshops, from where the commissions for the churches in the city or the bishopric were done. One of these painters, whose activity in Vic at the beginning of the 15th century is recorded, is “Nicolau Verdera”. Gudiol i Ricart suggested the possibility of him being the painter of a series of anonymous works from Osona and El Bages, which have a great stylistic affinity and are conserved chiefly in the Museu Episcopal de Vic. The most important work in this group is the altarpiece dedicated to Saint Margaret from the church of La Santa Creu in Fonollosa, with scenes dedicated to the saint's life. His art presents the use of a very varied and contrasting palette of colours that distances him from the pastel colours typical of Italianate Gothic, and takes him close to the International Gothic style introduced by Lluís Borrassà. There is also the wish to represent reality more truthfully.