The artwork titled “St. Anthony Resurrects a Child,” created by Piero della Francesca around the year 1460, belongs to the Early Renaissance art movement and is a part of the “Polyptych of St. Anthony” series. This religious painting is housed in the National Gallery of Umbria, located in the Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia, Italy.
The artwork depicts a miraculous event where St. Anthony is seen resurrecting a child. The composition includes St. Anthony prominently positioned in the center, extending his hand in a gesture of resurrection. Another figure, likely a monk, stands behind St. Anthony with hands raised in a similar gesture, possibly invoking divine assistance. A distressed woman, presumed to be the child’s mother, stands near the child’s cot, expressing her amazement and relief. The setting is modest, featuring simple architectural elements and muted tones that focus the viewer’s attention on the central figures and the miraculous act. The child lies in a horizontal wooden cot, covered with a stark red cloth, symbolizing both death and the potential for life. The artwork, characteristic of the Early Renaissance, illustrates a serene yet poignant scene imbued with deep religious significance.
