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  • image SG15

Saint Nicholas called to the Christian faith, stained glass panel, German, 1600

Clear glass with dark brown paint

Height: 175mm, approximate
Width: 140 mm, approximate

Museum number: SG15

On display: Entrance Hall
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

The St Nicholas represented in this panel is Nicholas of Tolentino, an Augustine hermit who devoted his life to teaching and good works. Here he is shown kneeling in a dark forest, with arms raised, looking up to his right where rays of light stream towards him. This is probably a reference to the star or comet said to have been seen at his birth, c. 1246. A rosary and cross hang from his right hand and on the ground before him lies an open book. To his left is a box on which stands a crucifix as if on an altar. He wears the long robes of the Augustinian order. Under the panel is the inscription: De Beroffüng S. Nicolay zü der Cristliche Kirchen.

The dark shades of brown paint, relieved only by occasional highlights scratched in the paint is typical of German work of this date; for another example of this style see SG73 Scene from the life of saint Judasius. Although no Netherlandish source has been found for this representation of Saint Nicholas, the composition has strong Netherlandish influence, particularly in the integration of the main figure into the elaborate background.

Literature

Catalogue of the Stained Glass in Sir John Soane's Museum, Special Issue of the Journal of Stained Glass 2004, p. 148


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