Who painted Saint Nicholas of Bari?

Saint Nicholas of Bari was painted by Jacopo da Empoli in 1610.

Where can I see Saint Nicholas of Bari?

Saint Nicholas of Bari is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Nicholas of Bari?

Saint Nicholas of Bari is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Saint Nicholas of Bari?

Museum-quality prints of Saint Nicholas of Bari are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Saint Nicholas of Bari

Jacopo da Empoli , 1610

Saint Nicholas of Bari is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Jacopo da Empoli. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1610, the year of Jacopo da Empoli's death, this work is a preparatory drawing for a painting of Saint Nicholas of Bari.

Created in 1610, the year of Jacopo da Empoli's death, this work is a preparatory drawing for a painting of Saint Nicholas of Bari. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and blue wash over black chalk, the sheet features a squared grid in red chalk, indicating its function as a cartoon for transferring the composition to a larger canvas. The drawing depicts the saint in full robes, kneeling on a rocky terrain with one arm raised in a gesture of blessing.

Da Empoli employs loose, confident strokes to render the drapery folds and rough shading to model the facial features, characteristic of his late Mannerist style. The background remains largely blank, focusing attention on the figure's dynamic posture and the structural lines of the garment. This piece exemplifies the artist's methodical approach to religious subjects during the transition from the late 16th to the early 17th century in Florence, serving as a technical bridge between initial conception and final painted execution.

Subject & Meaning

The figure depicted is Saint Nicholas, shown in a simple robe and bent in reverence, one arm lifted in a gesture that suggests blessing or appeal. The sparse background isolates the saint, emphasizing his devotional posture and the spiritual focus of the composition without narrative distraction.

Technique & Style

Empoli combines confident, swift ink lines for the drapery with subtle shading on the face, while a cool blue wash overlays the ink to mute the tones and create a slightly ethereal atmosphere. The red‑chalk grid beneath the drawing indicates a proportional study, a common practice among Baroque artists preparing larger compositions.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the drawing entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings in the twentieth century, though earlier ownership details remain undocumented. Its attribution to Jacopo da Empoli aligns with his known activity in Florence during the transition from Mannerism to early Baroque.