Collections: European Art: Saint Lawrence Distributing Alms to the Poor

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Saint Lawrence Distributing Alms to the Poor

• Portfolio/Series: Scenes from the Life of Saint Lawrence, predella

A horizontal panel that supports the main altarpiece, a predella often presents narrative scenes from the life of the saint or holy figure who is represented in the main image above it. In this example, Lorenzo illustrates the life of Saint Lawrence, a third-century deacon of the Catholic Church and an early martyr.

At an undetermined time and for reasons that remain unclear, this predella was removed from its altarpiece and cut into several pieces. Scholars have reconstructed the approximate sequence, following art-historical precedent, and arranged the scenes according to the devotional function of the predella rather than providing a strict chronology of events. This ordering places the widest panel—the depiction of the martyred Lawrence liberating the souls in Purgatory—as the central scene in the legend of the saint. During the early Renaissance, the Catholic faithful frequently invoked Lawrence to intercede for these penitent souls.

The arrangement of the panels is asymmetrical—with two scenes to the left of the central panel and three to its right—suggesting that an episode may be missing. With the exception of the martyrdom scene, Lorenzo consistently represents the saint with a halo, tonsured head, and pink robe, making him instantly recognizable throughout.


This text refers to these objects: 03.74; 03.75; 03.76; 03.77; 03.79

• Artist: Lorenzo di Niccolò, Italian, Florentine, documented 1393-1412
• Medium: Tempera and tooled gold on poplar panel
• Place Made: Italy
• Dates: ca. 1412
• Dimensions: Uneven: 15 1/16 x 6 13/16 in. (38.3 x 17.3 cm) Frame: 17 13/16 x 6 3/4 in. (45.2 x 17.1 cm)
• Collections: European Art
• Museum Location: This item is on view in Beaux-Arts Court, East, 3rd Floor
• Accession Number: 03.76
• Credit Line: Gift of A. Augustus Healy
• Image: Overall, 03.76_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Lorenzo di Niccolò (Italian, Florentine, documented 1393-1412). Saint Lawrence Distributing Alms to the Poor, ca. 1412. Tempera and tooled gold on poplar panel, Uneven: 15 1/16 x 6 13/16 in. (38.3 x 17.3 cm) Frame: 17 13/16 x 6 3/4 in. (45.2 x 17.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of A. Augustus Healy, 03.76 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 03.76_SL1.jpg)