Unrecorded vernacular print of the miraculous bread of Nicholas of Tolentino.
S. Niccola di Tolentino. [Italy]: “sculp. Giuseppe Sebastiani,” [18th century]. [15.5 x 11.3 cm the sheet, 10.0 x 7.9 cm the platemark], [1] f. drypoint on laid paper. Well preserved.
Unrecorded popular print depicting St. Nicholas of Tolentino (c. 1246-1305) presenting the small curative bread loaves (panette or panini) that are part of his legend. The print—likely produced in Tolentino or nearby Macerata for distribution to pilgrims visiting the Basilica di San Nicola in Tolentino—is a drypoint (of rather vernacular execution) made by a certain Giuseppe Sebastiani, who proudly signed his name in the plate.
The bread of St. Nicholas of Tolentino was a substance considered to be far more than just nutritive, and one wonders if this print was merely a souvenir or if it was intended to carry with it part of the curative-apotropaic charge of the miraculous bread itself.
The story of the miraculous bread of St. Nicholas of Tolentino is summarized well by John Henning: “One day, when he was seriously ill, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, urging him to buy in the morning fresh bread, to dip it into water, and to eat it. When Nicholas had eaten the bread, he was immediately restored to health. This apparition seems to be connected with the story, still recalled by the Roman Breviary, of the Saint observing from his early youth a fast on three days of the week on water and bread in honour of his patron saint. From this vision originated the custom in the Augustinian Order of blessing bread as a sacramental against diseases, dangers, storms and fires. The Bollandists doubt whether St. Nicholas himself used that sacramental for others, but they confirm the claim made by the Augustinians that the privilege of blessing bread in honour of St. Nicholas of Tolentino was granted in the 15th century. The Acta Sanctorum also record a great number of miracles wrought through St. Nicholas’s bread, including the rescue of sailors and shipwrecked persons. In all these latter instances it is mentioned that the bread blessed in honour of St. Nicholas was thrown into the sea, to appease, as it was believed, the demons which otherwise would have devoured the faithful” (p. 267).
This print is not located by OCLC, KVK or OPAC.
*J. Hennig, “St. Nicholas’ Bread,” Béaloideas, vol. 13, nos. 1 & 2 (Jun.-Dec., 1943), pp. 264-269; L. Radi, San Nicola da Tolentino; G. Zandr, S. Nicola da Tolentino.