NETHERLANDISH, MOSAN, 1520-1530 | SAINT NICHOLAS OF MYRA

St Jacobskerk te Schurhoven, Sint-Truiden;

private collection, Belgium

C. Ceulemans, R. Didier and J. Gerits, Laat-Gotische Beeldsnijkunst uit Limburg en Grensland, exh. cat. Provinciaal Museum voor Religieuze Kunst, Begijnhof, Sint-Truiden, 1990, no. 481

With its expressive face, heavy folds of drapery, and richly decorated mitre, this Saint Nicholas illustrates some of the key features of Mosan sculpture during the early 16th century. Illustrated in the work cited above, the barrel holding the three children at the Saint's feet, part of Saint Nicholas' legend, was stolen in 1964.