Completed circa 1460, the artwork “St. Elizabeth Saves a Boy” by Piero della Francesca is a poignant representation of the Early Renaissance art movement. This religious painting belongs to the “Polyptych of St. Anthony” series and is currently housed at the National Gallery of Umbria (Palazzo dei Priori) in Perugia, Italy.
The artwork depicts a miraculous scene where St. Elizabeth is portrayed intervening to save a young boy. At the center, a well dominates the setting, with St. Elizabeth leaning over its edge, her hands engaged in the act of rescue. A child, submerged up to the shoulders, is depicted within the well, emphasizing the urgency and divine intervention of the scene. To the left, a woman dressed in a long teal gown leans towards the well, her expression and posture highlighting her concern and anticipation. On the right, a man in a green tunic and red hat stands ready with a rope and grappling hook, poised to assist in the boy’s retrieval. Above this tableau, in the upper right corner, an architectural feature with arched doorways adds depth to the composition, while a bystander, possibly a nun or St. Elizabeth herself in another form, observes the miracle from a distance. The overall scene encapsulates a moment of divine grace, depicted with the clarity and proportion characteristic of Early Renaissance aesthetics.
