Restored in 1990 with Save Venice general funds.

Both the technique and the general attitude of these two figures bring them within the artistic ambit of Pietro Lombardo, one of the most prominent sculptors and architects active in Venice during the later decades of the fifteenth century.

Saint Nicholas of Bari is represented with a book of scripture in one hand, and the three golden balls in his right that are his most frequent attribute; they refer to the three bags of gold that he provided to three young girls whose father was too poor to provide them with dowries.

Nicholas of Tolentino holds a book as well, and delivers a blessing with his right hand. His cloak is of particularly high quality: patches of roughly chiseled marble create an interplay of light and shadow in contrast with the smoothly carved fleur-de-lis pattern that decorates the fictive textile.

The slightly over half-length format of the sculptures recalls the small figures set atop the balustrade along the raised choir of the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, a project executed by Pietro Lombardo and his workshop.

The sculptures were restored by conservators from the Marchetto e Bortolaso firm, with the guidance of project director Ettore Merkel of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Workshop of Pietro Lombardo (c. 1430-1515) [attr.]
Bust of St. Nicholas of Tolentino; Bust of St. Nicholas of Bari
Late fifteenth century, marble

Chorus Association: Church of Santo Stefano