Saint Nicolas

Cecco di Pietro's depiction of Saint Nicholas, now in the Musee du Petit Palais, likely formed part of a polyptych altarpiece from a Pisan church. Saint Nicholas of Bari was one of the most widely venerated saints in medieval Italy, patron of sailors, children, and numerous cities and guilds. Cecco was among the most prolific Pisan painters of the later Trecento, producing numerous altarpieces that combined local traditions with influences from Siena and Florence.

Tempera on gold-ground panel, with the bishop saint shown in full liturgical vestments rendered with careful attention to textile patterns. Cecco di Pietro's style features firm outlines, warm tonalities, and the distinctive Pisan approach to facial modeling that distinguishes his work from Sienese and Florentine contemporaries.