St. Nicholas was
born in Asia Minor around 270 and was named Bishop of Myra in Anatolia
while still a young man. He suffered much for his faith until the accession
of Emperor Constantine and the proclamation of Christianity as the official
Imperial religion. His charisma and zealous assault on the Arian heresy
made him an exceptional figure. He probably died in 343. Two episodes from
his rich legend stand out: his giving a dowry to three virgins, thus he
saved them from a dishonorable fate of prostitutes, and resurrection of
three children (or students, or soldiers) chopped into pieces and thrown
into a brine tab by an innkeeper, who wanted to serve them as a meat meal
to his guests. Numerous other miracles were attributed to St. Nicholas,
mainly taking place at sea; he became the patron saint of seamen at an
early date before becoming that of travellers generally. He is also patron
of children, unbetrothed virgins, perfumers (a pun on Myra and myrrh),
apothecaries and of Russia. He is shown as a bishop in the prime of life,
often carrying his crozier. His attributes are three money-bags and occasionally
ship's anchor.
See: Dionysius. St.
Nicolas.
Gentile da Fabriano. Virgin
and Child with St. Nicholas and St. Catherine. St.
Mary Magdalene, St. Nicholas of Bari, St. John the Baptist, St. George.
Gentile da Fabriano A
Miracle of St. Nicholas. The last surviving work by
Gentile da Fabriano documents, in this pilgrimage scene, an interesting
chapter in the history of religion. It shows the viewer the pilgrimage
to the tomb of St. Nicholas in Bari, the popularity of the pilgrimage site,
and also, in the figure of the man front left, an instance of miraculous
healing.
Gentile da Fabriano St.
Nicholas and the Three Gold Balls. The scene illustrates
the episode in which Nicholas saved three impoverished girls from prostitution
by tossing three gold balls through their window one night.
Giotto Madonna
and Child with St. Nicholas, St. John the Evangelist, St. Peter and St.
Benedict.
Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The
Charity of St. Nicholas of Bari, St.
Nicholas Offers Three Girls Their Dowry and St. Nicholas is Elected Bishop
of Mira.
Masaccio. St.
Nicholas Saving Three Sisters From Prostitution.
Piero della Francesca. St.
Nicholas of Tolentino.
Ilya Repin St.
Nicholas Saves Three Innocents from Death.
Jan Steen. The
Feast of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas has just
paid his pre-Christmas visit to the household, leaving toys, candy, and
cake for the children. Everybody is jolly except the bad boy on the left,
who has received only birch rod.
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