Piero della Francesca “Saint Nicolas of Tolentino” Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan in Italy

Piero della Francesca (1412/1420 — 12 October 1492) “Saint Nicolas of Tolentino”

Painting - Tempera on wood (139.4 x 59.2 cm) 1454-1469

It is assumed that Piero della Francesca had the prior of the convent of Borgo San Sepolcro pose for the execution of his Saint Nicholas, who was destined for the church of Sant' Agostino in Borgo San Sepolcro; this is because the name of the prior appears in the contract for the commission.

Piero della Francesca, Saint Nicolas of Tolentino, Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan in Italy

St Nicolas of Tolentino Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) was born after a pilgrimage by his parents to the tomb of Saint Nicholas of Myra in Bari.

His name connects him to the fact that he spent most of his life in the convent of the Augustinian hermits of Tolentino.

He intervened in the conflict between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs, and his calming action was considered a “wonderful” result, which explains why a star was one of his attributes.

The star that guided the saint during his nights of prayer is represented in this painting by Piero della Francesca, where he points to it by raising the index finger of his right hand, which sketches the gesture of blessing.

It is also said that on one of these nights, the ghost of a deceased brother came to visit him and took him to a place where abandoned souls lay.

The ghost then asked Saint Nicholas of Tolentino to intercede on behalf of these deaths.

Thus, people invoked the saint in this Mediterranean region to help souls leave purgatory.

Piero della Francesca represented him with a long leather belt around his waist, which he extended to suffering souls to help them leave purgatory.

St Nicolas of Tolentino