Miracle of St Eligius
by BOTTICELLI, Sandro, Tempera on panel, 21 x 269 cm (entire predella)
This is the fifth scene on the single panel predella of the San Marco Altarpiece.
According to legend, St Eligius shod a horse that was possessed by devils. He cut one of the horses legs off, and after completing his work reattached it while making the sign of the Cross. The Devil, portrayed as a woman with horns, is watching the holy smith. A groom is having considerable difficulty controlling the impetuous horse.