Artwork

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds, by Benvenuto Tisi, oil, 1530
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds, by Benvenuto Tisi, oil, 1530

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds 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 work's title explicitly identifies the narrative subject as the saint reviving birds, a specific miraculous event from the life of the Augustinian friar.

Executed in 1530 by Benvenuto Tisi, also known as Garofalo, this religious oil painting depicts Saint Nicholas of Tolentino alongside a male figure. The work's title explicitly identifies the narrative subject as the saint reviving birds, a specific miraculous event from the life of the Augustinian friar. While the provided records confirm the presence of the saint and the general genre of religious art, they do not elaborate on the specific iconographic attributes used to identify the figures beyond their names, nor do they detail the symbolic meaning behind the act of reviving the birds or the theological message the artist intended to convey through this scene.

Technique & Style

The painting Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds is executed in oil on canvas, a support typical of Italian Renaissance works of the early sixteenth century. According to the recorded dimensions, the canvas measures about 32.7 centimeters in height by 66 centimeters in width, providing a modest vertical format suited to devotional display. The composition is rendered in a naturalistic yet devotional style, employing layered oil pigments to model the saint’s figure and the fluttering birds, creating subtle chiaroscuro that emphasizes spiritual presence. The work belongs to the religious genre and was created circa 1530, as documented in contemporary records.

History & Provenance

The painting Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds is dated to 1530 and attributed to Benvenuto Tisi, known as Garofalo. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed. Its early provenance is undocumented in the provided sources, which confirm only its presence at the museum and its 1530 creation date.

No information is given regarding the original commission or the work’s ownership history prior to its acquisition by the museum.

Benvenuto Tisi's painting Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds, dated to 1530, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in oil paint on canvas, measures 32.7 cm in height and 66 cm in width. While the provided sources confirm the artwork's current location and physical dimensions within the museum's holdings, they do not supply a specific inventory or accession number for the piece.

Furthermore, the available documentation offers no details regarding the painting's exhibition history, leaving its display record outside the scope of the current information.

Legacy

The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, a status that reflects its recognized significance in art historical discourse. Created by Benvenuto Tisi in 1530, the oil on canvas depicts the saint Nicholas of Tolentino reviving birds, situating it within the religious genre of the period. Its inclusion in a major museum's holdings has contributed to a lasting reputation that continues to inform studies of devotional painting.

Overview

Created in 1530 by Benvenuto Tisi, also known as Garofalo, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds is an oil painting depicting a miraculous event from the life of the Augustinian friar. The work is a notable example of religious art from the early 16th century, showcasing the artist's approach to narrative and figural composition. This painting is presently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Restoring Two Partridges to Life
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Restoring Two Partridges to Life

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 the Birds?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds was painted by Benvenuto Tisi in 1530-01-01.

Where can I see Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds?

Saint Nicholas of Tolentino Reviving the Birds is associated with Mannerism.