ALBRECHT DÜRER IN THE SERLACHIUS COLLECTION: SAINTS NICHOLAS, ULRICH AND ERASMUS


	SAINTS NICHOLAS, ULRICH AND ERASMUS The persons in the picture are bishops in Mass vestments. St. Nicholas, who is on the left, can be recognised by the bread that he is holding in his hand. In a time of famine, bread was brought to the island visible in the background by a ship which can be seen in the picture. Nicholas' other emblems are a ship and an anchor. According to legend, he had saved a ship from distress at sea and for that reason was the patron saint of fisherfolk and seafarers. He is believed to have been the Bishop of Myra in Lycia. Standing on the right, Saint Erasmus is holding his intestines, which have been pulled out and wound onto a windlass. Evisceration was one of the tortures he endured when he suffered martyrdom. He can also be identified by the circle, on top of which is a burning candle. He was originally the Bishop of Antioch. In the centre of the woodcut is Saint Ulrich, the principal saint of Augsburg. He is holding his emblem, a fish, in one hand and a Bible in the other. The intention was probably to sell this picture in Augsburg, because Saint Ulrich has been given an emphatically important position in it. Back



Saints Nicholas, Ulrich and Erasmus ca. 1505, woodcut large image (169 kb) detail 5 detail 6