BOTTICELLI, Sandro
(b. 1445, Firenze, d. 1510, Firenze)

Baptism of St Zenobius and His Appointment as Bishop

1500-05
Tempera on panel, 66,5 x 149,5 cm
National Gallery, London

Botticelli depicted the life and work of St Zenobius (337-417), the first bishop of Florence, on four paintings. In the first scene, St Zenobius is shown twice: he rejects the bride that his parents intended him to take in marriage and walks thoughtfully away. The other episodes show the baptism of the young Zenobius and his mother, and on the right his ordination as bishop.