Artwork
A Miracle of St Zenobius
A Miracle of St Zenobius is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Domenico Veneziano. It dates from 1445 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Veneziano’s tempera panel, dated to 1445, portrays a miraculous episode associated with Saint Zenobius. Executed in the early Renaissance, the work is part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Its composition centers on a kneeling woman in black beside a prone figure in blue, surrounded by onlookers whose gestures convey prayer and astonishment.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates a legend of Saint Zenobius, in which the saint intervenes to heal or revive a fallen individual. The central female figure, her long white hair streaming behind her, appears to intercede or mourn, while the surrounding crowd, dressed in vivid robes, watches with raised hands, emphasizing communal faith and the divine presence within everyday life.
Technique & Style
Rendered in tempera, the painting achieves fine detail through layered pigment and egg‑based medium, allowing crisp outlines and luminous colour. The artist’s handling of light gives the figures a subtle three‑dimensionality, while the cityscape in the background—white walls capped with brown roofs—provides spatial depth without overwhelming the narrative.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑15th century, the panel entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s holdings during the 19th‑century expansion of its Renaissance collection. Its attribution to Domenico Veneziano has been affirmed through stylistic comparison with his documented works and technical analysis of the tempera layers.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Florentine artists were exploring naturalistic representation and the integration of sacred stories into relatable settings. By placing the miracle within an identifiable urban environment, Veneziano aligns the divine event with the lived experience of contemporary viewers, reflecting the humanist currents of his time.
Artist & collection
Saint Dominic Resuscitating Napoleone Orsini
The hl. Zenobius raises a dead boy
The Adoration of the Magi
The Birth of the Virgin
The Massacre of The Innocents
Saint Nicholas Providing Dowries
Saint Peter Martyr Exorcizing a Woman Possessed by a Devil
The visitation
The Death of Saint Anthony
Saint Anthony Distributing His Wealth to the Poor