Saint Nicholas with the Three Boys in the Pickling Tub
Unknown Artist
ca. 1500
Medium
Oak
Dimensions
Overall: 42 1/2 x 20 x 15 1/2 in. (108 x 50.8 x 39.4 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Wood
Culture
South Netherlandish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1916
Accession Number
16.32.193
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking oak wood sculpture from around 1500, crafted by an unknown South Netherlandish artist, captures the miracle of Saint Nicholas resurrecting three boys pickled in a tub by a wicked innkeeper. The legend, a cherished medieval tale, underscores the saint's role as protector of children—today's Santa Claus—highlighting themes of divine intervention and redemption. Carved in three dimensions, the life-sized figures (standing about 3.5 feet tall) invite viewers to contemplate the dramatic narrative, with the boys emerging from the tub as a symbol of hope amid horror. Hailing from the l...