St. Nicholas and the Three Daughters of the Poor Gentleman 1500 - 1600

Jan Swart van Groningen made this delicate drawing on paper sometime in the first half of the 16th century. It’s executed in a traditional medium – pen and brown ink, with a brown wash that lends the scene its subtle tonality. But look closely, and you’ll see that the subject matter isn't so traditional. Swart depicts Saint Nicholas, known for his generosity, secretly providing dowries for three impoverished sisters. The image is rendered with sensitivity to the textures of daily life - the crisp lines defining the architecture, contrasted with the soft folds of the figures’ garments and bedclothes. It’s interesting that the artist chose to foreground the labor of the sisters; they are shown working with their hands, perhaps sewing or engaged in other domestic crafts. This attention to the material realities of labor, and the contrast with the saint's surreptitious gift, gives the work a social dimension that moves beyond mere religious storytelling. It offers a poignant reflection on class, labor, and the value of charitable giving, all captured through the humble means of ink on paper.