The Charity of St. Nicholas

(attributed to, Bruges 1523-1605 Florence, Flemish/Italian (Florentine School)
circa 1580
engraving

Jan van der Straet moved to Forence in 1546 where he worked for Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici. He adopted the Mannerist style emphasizing elegant, exaggerated gestures and high-keyed colors. The story of the Charity of Saint Nicholas comes from the Golden Legend. Hearing of an impoverished nobleman unable to provide a dowry for his three daughters, the saint secretly gave each girl a golden ball which he tossed into their bedroom window during the night.