St. Nicholas of Tolentino 1465

Benozzo Gozzoli painted this fresco of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino in the church of Sant'Agostino in San Gimignano, Italy. The Augustinian order commissioned it to celebrate a miracle worker who rose to prominence in the 14th century. The book and lily are conventional symbols, but the sun on the saint's breast is unique to Nicholas. While the source of this symbolism remains something of a mystery, it emphasizes the Church's role as an intermediary between God and the faithful. Note the controlled palette. Gozzoli's ability to create subtle tonal modulations was in high demand for devotional images like this one. This work speaks to the function of art within society. While we can analyze the artistic techniques, we must also understand the social and religious contexts of its creation and reception. Examining period documents—patronage records, biographies, theological texts—can reveal how the image functioned within its community.