A Miracle of Saint Silvester

Artist Pesellino (Italian, about 1422–1457)

Dateabout 1450-1453

Mediumtempera on wood panel

Dimensionspanel: 31 × 78.4 cm (12 3/16 × 30 7/8 in.)
framed: 39.2 × 87.2 × 4.4 cm (15 7/16 × 34 5/16 × 1 3/4 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Terms

Object number1916.12

Label TextPesellino, the Renaissance artist whose given name was Francesco di Stefano, was influenced by his fellow Florentine painter Fra Filippo Lippi. He painted mainly small panels, usually richly colored and carefully executed. This work, along with two others (now in the Doria Pamphili collection in Rome), once formed the lower portion of a large altarpiece. (Known as a predella, this section generally consisted of narrative scenes that elaborate on the altar's main theme.) The three panels illustrate episodes in the life of Saint Silvester, who was pope from 314 to 335 during the reign of Constantine the Great. In the Worcester painting Silvester is seen kneeling in prayer before a bull, which he miraculously restores to life in a contest with a magician. By his action Silvester convinces Constantine, who sits at the far left, and his mother, Helen, seated at the extreme right, that they were correct in converting to Christianity. The entire scene takes place in a Renaissance-style loggia, or arcaded gallery.ProvenancePrince Doria Pamphili, Rome, by 1850; David John Carnegie, 10th earl of Northesk [1865-1921], Ethie Castle, By Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, by 1915; sold in the Northesk sale, Sotheby's, London, 1915; R. Langton Douglas, London, UK, by 1916; sold to the Worcester Art Museum, 1916.

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