St. Nicolas of Bari Felling a Tree Inhabited by Demons
Paolo de Matteis
Italian, 1662–1728
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Details
Title
St. Nicolas of Bari Felling a Tree Inhabited by Demons
Artist/Maker
Paolo de Matteis (Italian, 1662–1728)
Date
ca. 1727
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
34 1/2 x 54 5/8 inches
Credit
Purchase with Fay and Barrett Howell Fund
Accession #
1982.21
On View
Currently not on view
Paolo de Matteis developed a style that combined elements of the exuberant Neapolitan Baroque with the classicism he had learned in Rome. He was known for the virtuosity of his paint handling and had important patrons all over Europe. In this work, he depicts Saint Nicholas, one of the most popular saints in Europe, miraculously driving out the terrorizing demons from a sacred tree to make the land safe again for its inhabitants.