Artwork
Saint Nicholas and the storm
Saint Nicholas and the storm is an oil painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Agnolo Gaddi. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a devotional image, it represents the theological concept of divine aid and the intercessory role of saints within the Christian tradition.
The painting depicts Saint Nicholas, a central figure in religious art, specifically illustrating a scene associated with his legendary intervention during a storm. Created by Agnolo Gaddi in 1394, the work functions as a religious narrative piece, likely intended to convey the saint's protective power over travelers and sailors facing peril at sea. As a devotional image, it represents the theological concept of divine aid and the intercessory role of saints within the Christian tradition.
The subject matter aligns with the broader iconographic tradition of Saint Nicholas, emphasizing his miracles and spiritual authority rather than merely portraying his likeness.
Technique & Style
The panel employs oil paint on a poplar support, measuring 24.9 cm in height and 28.8 cm in width. Executed in 1394, the work belongs to the late Trecento tradition, characterized by delicate modeling and a restrained palette that emphasizes narrative clarity. The handling reveals careful attention to linear definition and subtle tonal transitions, particularly in rendering Saint Nicholas’s drapery and the agitated sea.
The composition’s spatial organization directs the viewer’s eye from the saint’s calm presence to the storm-tossed vessel in the background, underscoring the contrast between divine intervention and human peril.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Nicholas and the storm was created by Agnolo Gaddi in 1394 using oil paint on a poplar panel. It was commissioned for a private devotional context within the religious art tradition of late 14th-century Florence. The work entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been displayed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, including participation in the exhibition "Florence and its Painters: From Giotto to Leonardo da Vinci."
Its dimensions are 24.9 cm in height and 28.8 cm in width, and it dates to the early 1390s based on stylistic analysis and archival records.
The provenance traces a continuous ownership chain from its original patronage to its acquisition by the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it remains part of the permanent collection.
The creation history is documented through stylistic comparison with other works by Gaddi and contemporary Florentine panel paintings, supporting a dating to 1394–1395.
The painting Saint Nicholas and the storm by Agnolo Gaddi is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich. It was created in 1394 using oil paint on a poplar panel, measuring 24.9 cm in height and 28.8 cm in width. The work was included in the exhibition "Florence and its Painters: From Giotto to Leonardo da Vinci".
Overview
Created in 1398, Saint Nicholas and the Storm is an oil painting by the Florentine artist Agnolo Gaddi. The work belongs to the religious genre and follows the visual conventions of Byzantine iconography, presenting the saint amid a dramatic maritime scene.
Context
In the late fourteenth century, depictions of saints intervening in natural forces were common, especially for patrons seeking divine protection for maritime ventures. Saint Nicholas, revered for his miracles at sea, became a frequent subject for such devotional images, aligning with the painting’s intended function.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agnolo Gaddi (c.1350–1396) was an Italian painter. He was born and died in Florence, and was the son of the painter Taddeo Gaddi, who was himself the major pupil of the Florentine master Giotto. Agnolo was a painter…
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Madonna and Child Enthroned with Twelve Angels, and with the Blessing Christ [middle panel]
The Coronation of the Virgin with Six Angels
Triptych
Madonna with the child, St. John the Baptist, St. Francis and St. Anthony and a martyr
Storie di san giuliano
The Calling of Peter and Andrew
The Betrayal of Christ
Ein Wunder des Heiligen Augustinus
Arrival of Saint Ursula at Cologne
Nativity of Christ
Jesus saves Peter from drowning
Saint Clare rescuing the shipwrecked
The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew
Scenes from the lives of the apostles Petrus and Paulus
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Saving a Shipwreck