Altarpiece of Saint Nicholas of Bari (Detail), "Crasso’s patron saint is shown seated on an ornate, carved chair of marble and precious stone. An angel just below the throne holds his bishop’s mitre, which is always removed when a bishop is praying. At the saint’s feet are three gold balls that allude to the legend that he threw purses of gold through a poor nobleman’s window to provide a dowry for each of his daughters, so that they would not be obliged to enter a life of prostitution. As the patron of children, sailors and travelers, the guardian of nubile maidens, and the prototype of Father Christmas, Nicholas presumably was chosen as the subject for the altarpiece because he was Niccolo Crasso’s namesake. In addition, among the saint’s most well-known epigrams is, “Love righteousness, you that be judges of the earth” (Wisdom 1.1)."

(Meilman, Patricia. "Titian’s Altarpiece of St. Nicholas of Bari," Save Venice Journal, 1993.)

This detail features the bishop's hand and bible.

Altarpiece of Saint Nicholas of Bari (Detail), "Crasso’s patron saint is shown seated on an ornate, carved chair of marble and precious stone. An angel just below the throne holds his bishop’s mitre, which is always removed when a bishop is praying. At the saint’s feet are three gold balls that allude to the legend that he threw purses of gold through a poor nobleman’s window to provide a dowry for each of his daughters, so that they would not be obliged to enter a life of prostitution. As the patron of children, sailors and travelers, the guardian of nubile maidens, and the prototype of Father Christmas, Nicholas presumably was chosen as the subject for the altarpiece because he was Niccolo Crasso’s namesake. In addition, among the saint’s most well-known epigrams is, “Love righteousness, you that be judges of the earth” (Wisdom 1.1)." (Meilman, Patricia. "Titian’s Altarpiece of St. Nicholas of Bari," Save Venice Journal, 1993.) This detail features the bishop's hand and bible., spc-mss0088-s21-i0497. Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives. https://collections.library.vanderbilt.edu//repositories/2/digital_objects/72290 Accessed July 31, 2026.