Saint Nicholas from Santa Maria de Taüll

The figure is identified as Saint Nicholas, a bishop celebrated for his generosity and miracles. He is shown holding a book, a symbol of his ecclesiastical authority, and is crowned with a golden halo that marks his sanctity. His solemn expression reflects the reverent tone typical of saintly portraits of the period.

Rendered in tempera on a wooden panel, the composition features a vivid, multi‑coloured robe against a background of horizontal bands in red, blue and yellow. The bold striping and flat modelling of forms echo the stylistic conventions of the Master of the Day of Judgement, whose work is characterized by strong outlines and a limited spatial depth.

Originally part of the liturgical furnishings of the church of Santa Maria de Taüll in the Pallars region, the panel survived the dissolution of the monastery and entered the national museum’s holdings in the early 20th century. Despite centuries of exposure, the surface shows areas of flaking, yet the original pigments and details of the saint’s visage remain discernible.