St Nicholas revives three children Saint-Etienne Beauvais

This stained-glass panel (1525) portrays one of the most famous miracles attributed to St. Nicholas of Myra, the resurrection of the three children who had been murdered and preserved in a salting tub by a wicked innkeeper or butcher. Combining Renaissance humanism (naturalistic figures, architectural perspective) with Gothic spirituality (luminous colour, moral allegory), making it an exceptional example of transitional sacred art in early 16th-century France.

In the foreground St. Nicholas, wearing his episcopal vestments, mitre, cope, and crozier, is shown bending in blessing over the three nude children emerging from a wooden tub or barrel. His posture and the gesture of his raised hand indicate the moment of miraculous restoration to life. The children’s expressions and dynamic poses show motion and rebirth, contrasting with their confined space in the barrel.

The background scene unfolds within a domestic or tavern-like setting, often representing the inn where the crime took place. On the right, the butcher and his wife are depicted in agitation, one holds a knife or meat cleaver, the other looks distressed or repentant. The bed and architectural interior behind them set the stage for the miracle’s narrative, rendered with Gothic spatial conventions and a rich palette of colors: deep blues, reds, and greens alongside the naturalistic depiction of the figures, is characteristic of Beauvais workshops.

At the time that this window was created, Northern French Renaissance stained glass, was still influenced by the Late Gothic style but showing the new interest in spatial realism and human emotion. The artist uses painted glass with silver stain and enamel highlights to achieve depth and texture. Drapery folds, faces, and architectural details show the growing sophistication of Renaissance glass painters, who were beginning to treat stained glass more like illuminated painting.