Explore the Description of this artwork.
According to a pattern inspired by Albrecht Dürer's prints, Lotto placed St. Nicholas  in the upper center, with a luminous halo crowning his face. The saint is looking upwards, suggesting that he is ascending, and is surrounded by three angels who keep his mantle open and hold his traditional symbols: the mitre, the episcopal crozier and three golden balls, in memory of the three maidens saved by Nicholas according to the legend.
Below him are St. John the Baptist (patron of one of the donors) and St. Lucy, whose tooth is alleged to have been preserved in the church as a holy relic.
The lower part is occupied by a dark landscape, featuring, amongst other details, a sea harbor and a port struck by a storm.  The style of this section shows the influence of the Danube school. The small scene of St. George killing the dragon was added to fulfill one of the donor's wishes.
St. Lucy crozier Danube school John the Baptist St. John the Baptist mitre Albrecht Dürer