Three Legends of Saint Nicholas

I first came across Gerard David’s Three Legends of Saint Nicholas during the Art History module of my degree, back when I was young, idealistic, and still capable of pulling all-nighters fuelled solely by instant noodles and a questionable energy drink. Much of what I learned back then has since evaporated, like the plot of a film you only half-watch on a plane, but I thought it might be fun to revisit this particular painting. Or, rather, this panel. You see, it’s actually part of a larger predella – basically a posh word for a decorative base on an altar – which has long since been disassembled and scattered to the winds. The bit I’m discussing resides in the National Galleries Scotland, while the rest is gallivanting about the United States.

Now, to the good stuff: Gerard David’s Three Legends of Saint Nicholas is like the medieval equivalent of a Netflix miniseries, offering three bite-sized episodes from the life of Saint Nicholas, the original gift-giver, miracle-worker, and all-around holy overachiever. Let’s dive in.

1. Saint Nicholas as a Baby

The left panel is a charming little scene featuring Baby Nicholas standing in a basin, looking for all the world like he’s auditioning for a Renaissance baby shampoo advert. This tableau is inspired by a legend where the infant Nicholas, upon hearing the name of Jesus, stood bolt upright and made the sign of the cross. As miracles go, it’s not exactly walking on water, but it does suggest that Nicholas was a precocious little chap destined for big things. I mean, most babies are too busy drooling and throwing up to contemplate theology, so fair play to him.

2. Nicholas Giving Money to a Destitute Father

The central panel is where things get juicy. Here, Nicholas – now all grown up and rocking his bishop’s gear like a man who knows how to accessorise – steps in to save the day for a desperate father. The poor chap is facing the grim prospect of his three daughters being forced into slavery (or worse) because he can’t afford their dowries. Enter Nicholas, stage left, with bags of gold coins, like the medieval Oprah: “You get a dowry! And you get a dowry! Everyone gets a dowry!”

There’s even a bit of intrigue in the composition. A shadowy figure in the background – possibly Nicholas himself – is seen slipping the gold through a window. It’s a bit like a Renaissance heist movie, but with less car chases and more saintly benevolence.

3. Children Saved from Being Butchered and Pickled

Ah, the right panel. And here’s where things take a turn for the macabre. This scene depicts one of Nicholas’ lesser-known miracles: rescuing three boys from a butcher who had not only killed them but also pickled them, presumably for some kind of medieval charcuterie. (Yes, really.) Nicholas, being the absolute legend that he was, revived the children and probably gave the butcher a stern talking-to – or maybe a smack with his crozier. It’s equal parts horrifying and heartwarming, like a Christmas special directed by Quentin Tarantino.

The Real Saint Nicholas: More Than a Jolly Old Elf

Of course, we can’t talk about Saint Nicholas without addressing his more famous gig as the inspiration for Santa Claus. But the real Nicholas wasn’t just a jolly old man handing out presents. Oh no, he had a fiery side. Case in point: the time he punched a heretic at the Council of Nicaea.

Picture it: 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea – a sort of theological WrestleMania where bishops gathered to sort out the finer points of Christian doctrine. Enter Arius, a priest with some rather controversial views about the nature of Christ. Nicholas, not one to mince words (or punches), took issue with Arius’ heretical chatter. And what did our saintly hero do? He strode across the room and decked him. Yes, Saint Nicholas – patron saint of children, sailors, and pawnbrokers – went full WWE on a heretic.

The aftermath was suitably dramatic. Nicholas was stripped of his bishop’s robes and thrown in jail, but according to legend, Jesus and the Virgin Mary appeared to him in a vision, handed him back his robes, and essentially said, “It’s all good, mate.” He was reinstated, and the Nicene Creed was drafted, affirming the orthodox view of Christ’s divinity.

A Saint of Surprises

So, there you have it: Saint Nicholas, a man of many talents. He gave generously, performed miracles, and wasn’t afraid to throw hands when the occasion called for it. The next time you see a department-store Santa, spare a thought for the real deal – a man who stood up for his beliefs, saved children from pickling, and occasionally settled theological disputes with his fists.

And if that’s not the spirit of Christmas, I don’t know what is. Merry Christmas!

References

Books:

• Carroll, W.J. (2006) The Life and Times of Saint Nicholas: The History of Saint Nicholas and Christmas Traditions. New York: HarperCollins.
• Freeman, C. (2008) A.D. 381: Heretics, Pagans, and the Dawn of the Monotheistic State. New York: Overlook Press.
• Rubenstein, R.E. (1999) When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome. New York: Harcourt Brace.

Articles:

• Kelly, J.N.D. (1975) ‘The Council of Nicaea: Its Significance for Today’, The Journal of Theological Studies, 26(1), pp. 50-63.
• Pelikan, J. (1971) ‘The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Vol. 1: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition (100-600)’. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Websites:

• Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) ‘Council of Nicaea’. Available at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11044a.htm(Accessed: 31 May 2024).
• St. Nicholas Center (2021) ‘Who is St. Nicholas?’ Available at: https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas(Accessed: 31 May 2024).

Image: National Galleries Scotland https://bit.ly/3Vm0IdK