Last Miracle and the Death of St Zenobius

This wide panel artwork was created by Botticelli in circa 1500-1505

The original painting is now owned by the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden, with Germany holding one of the best collections of Botticelli's work.

This piece is sometimes refered to as the Final Miracle and Death of St Zenobius and measures an impressive 66cm tall by 182cm wide. It is one of a series of fresco paintings by Botticelli that depict the life of St Zenobius. They were all painted within this estimated span of 1500 to 1505.

In total there were four panels depicting the Miracles of St Zenobius, with the other three to be found at The National Gallery in London (two) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (one). As the final piece in this series, Last Miracle followed on chronologically from Early Life, Three Miracles I and Three Miracles II.

This artwork uses the full width to depict three different stages, covering an initial accident, a recovery and then the final passing of St Zenobias. On the left a young man is run over by a small market cart, whilst his mother begs for help. Two deacons of Zenobius, Eugenius and Crescentius, then persude the saint to give prayers for him. This then aids his recovery, as seen in the centre of the painting.

With his final miracle complete, the gifted man would then pass away on the right hand side, bringing this series of four panels to an end. He is surrounded by prayers and sadness, representing his own importance across his lifetime.

The Sistine Madonna by Raphael (1515) is the most famous painting on display at the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden, although this work by Botticelli is also of a highly significant stature.