Artwork

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child, by Benvenuto Tisi, oil, 1530
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child, by Benvenuto Tisi, oil, 1530

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Benvenuto Tisi. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, an Augustinian friar venerated for his intercessory miracles, shown in the act of reviving a child.

The painting depicts Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, an Augustinian friar venerated for his intercessory miracles, shown in the act of reviving a child. The scene is populated by additional figures identified as a woman and a man, who likely represent witnesses, mourners, or the child's parents gathered around the miracle. The narrative focus on resurrection rather than martyrdom reflects Nicholas's iconographic association with miracles of healing and restoration of life, particularly involving infants and the dying.

Set within a religious genre composition, the work functions as a devotional image meant to commemorate and venerate the saint's miraculous power, presenting the miracle as a tangible event with human participants who give the sacred narrative an accessible, empathetic dimension.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, dating to 1530 and attributed to Benvenuto Tisi (also known as Garofalo). The canvas measures approximately 33 cm in height by 65.4 cm in width, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's catalogue. Its subject, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino reviving a child, forms part of a religious composition typical of early sixteenth-century Italian art.

History & Provenance

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child was created in 1530 by Benvenuto Tisi, also known as Garofalo. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 33 centimeters in height and 65.4 centimeters in width. It is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Overview

Created by Benvenuto Tisi in 1530, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child is an oil painting that illustrates a miraculous event attributed to the medieval saint. The artwork is housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and presents a dramatic interior scene, characteristic of religious narratives from the early 16th century. It captures a moment of intense human emotion and divine intervention through its careful composition and use of light.

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Artist & collection

Portrait of Benvenuto Tisi

Artist

Benvenuto Tisi

Benvenuto Tisi (Italian:; 1481 – September 6, 1559), also known as Il Garofalo (Italian: ), was a Late-Renaissance-Mannerist Italian painter of the School of Ferrara.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child was painted by Benvenuto Tisi in 1530-01-01.

Where can I see Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving a Child is associated with Mannerism.