Saint Nicholas of Myra flanked by praying figures
ca. 1460–1470
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 5/16 × 4 3/4 in. (16 × 12 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of James Clark McGuire, 1930
Accession Number
31.54.129
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate woodcut, titled *Saint Nicholas of Myra by praying figures*, dates to around 1460–1470 was created by an anonymous Italian artist during the early Renaissance. Measuring just 65/16 × 4 3/4 inches ( × 12 cm), the intimate sheet captures the-saint at center, distinguished by his crozier—a shepherd's staff symbolizing episcopal authority—surrounded by kneeling men and women in fervent. Such modest prints were designed for personal devotion, bridging the gap between grand altarpieces and everyday worship. Woodcuts like this one marked a pivotal advancement in 15th-century Italian ar...