Saint Proculus Induces the Doe to give Milk to his Thirsty Companions
Pacino di Buonaguida·1317
Historical Context
This narrative panel by Pacino di Buonaguida, a Florentine miniaturist and panel painter active in the early Trecento, depicts an episode from the life of Saint Proculus in which the saint miraculously causes a doe to give milk to his thirsty companions. Pacino was one of the most productive artists in early 14th-century Florence, known for illuminated manuscripts and small-scale narrative panels. Created around 1317, the work reflects the Gothic taste for richly detailed hagiographic narratives that made saints' lives vivid and accessible.
Technical Analysis
Painted in egg tempera and gold on panel, the scene demonstrates Pacino's miniaturist sensibility — precise, jewel-like detail and delicate figural drawing characteristic of an artist equally at home in manuscript illumination. The landscape elements, though simplified, create a convincing outdoor setting for the miraculous event.
