Saint Nicholas of Bari

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,Saint Nicholas of Bari* is a delicate tempera on panel by the Sienese painter Pietro di d'Ambrogio, created in the mid-1430s. Measuring just 9⅝ × 2¹⁵∕₁₆ inches on its painted surface—framed within a taller engaged frame—this narrow, vertical work exemplifies the intimate scale of private devotional art from Renaissance Italy. Tempera, an egg-based medium applied in thin, luminous layers on wood panel, allowed for exquisite detail and vibrant colors that glow with a jewel-like quality, a hallmark of Sienese painting during its transition from Gothic elegance to early Renaissance naturalism. Pietro di Giovanni d'Ambrogio, active in Siena around 1400–1440, contributed to the city's rich tradition of religious imagery, blending graceful International Gothic forms with emerging Renaissance humanism. Saint Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop of Myra (whose relics were enshrined in Bari, Italy), was a beloved protector of children, sailors, and the needy—his miracles, like resurrecting slaughtered boys, made him a popular subject for personal piety. This small panel likely served as a portable aid for prayer or part of a larger altarpiece predella, inviting quiet contemplation. Today, this gem highlights Siena's enduring artistic legacy, preserved through the Lehman Collection since 1975, offering visitors a window into 15th-century devotion and craftsmanship.

About the Artist

Pietro di Giovanni d'Ambrogio · 1409–1449

Comment on works: religious