St Nicholas WGA Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti) (1518-1594)

The composition presents a figure in profile, dominating the vertical format. He is depicted as an elderly man with a long white beard and hair, suggesting wisdom and age. The individual wears elaborate ecclesiastical vestments – a tall mitre adorned with triangular projections, and a flowing cloak of reddish-orange hue lined with white fur. A staff topped with an ornate finial is held in his right hand, signifying authority and spiritual guidance. In the left hand, he carries a small, shallow dish upon which three golden spheres rest.
The figure’s posture conveys a sense of movement; he appears to be stepping forward, engaging directly with the viewer. The lighting emphasizes the folds and textures of his garments, creating a dramatic interplay of light and shadow that enhances their visual weight. A stormy seascape is visible in the background, rendered in muted tones of grey and green, contributing to an atmosphere of solemnity and perhaps hinting at trials or challenges overcome.
The presence of the three golden spheres on the dish introduces a layer of symbolic complexity. Their spherical shape often represents perfection, unity, or divinity. Given the context of ecclesiastical attire and the figure’s bearing, they likely symbolize virtues, gifts, or possibly even coins representing charitable acts – a common association with figures known for generosity.
The overall effect is one of dignified solemnity, suggesting a personage of considerable spiritual importance. The artists use of color, light, and composition directs attention to the figure’s authority and the symbolic objects he carries, creating an image intended to inspire reverence and contemplation.