Three apostles in bust form

These three sculpted apostles in bust are arranged in a variety of postures and expressions.

Two characters are seen interacting while the third looks directly at the viewer. The effort the sculptor has made to give each of them individual features also led him to vary how the hair and beards are treated, resulting in strands that are wavy, curly, or coiled to resemble snail shells.

The bald head of the apostle in the middle only has a single tuft of hair, a characteristic representation of Saint Peter in the late Middle Ages.

However, the identity of the other two characters is vague as the added attribute they held, their fingers curled around it, is now missing. The apostle on the left is touching the book that St. Peter is leaning on to express their shared faith.

The intense expressiveness of the faces marked by wrinkles, prominent cheekbones, and furrowed brows reveals a tendency toward exaggeration. This borders on caricature in the case of the right-hand apostle, whose teeth can be seen in his open mouth.

The faces have sculpted features enhanced by strands of hair painted on the skin tones of the forehead.

This sculpted group was positioned in the predella of a altarpiece, following a common style in the south of the Empire, which arranged the twelve apostles in symmetrical groups around Christ blessing them.