Coronation of the Virgin, predella – Miracle of St. Eligius Alessandro Botticelli (1445-1510)

This is a detail from a larger painting, likely a predella panel. The scene depicts a blacksmith at work in his forge. He is a muscular man with a red head covering, wearing a leather apron. He is actively hammering a piece of metal on his anvil, with bright sparks flying from the impact. To the right of the blacksmith, a woman in a flowing green gown stands holding what appears to be a mirror. Behind her, a man in red trousers and a blue jacket is leading a white horse, which is draped with a golden cloak. The background shows a wall decorated with a pattern of repeated arches.
The subtext of this image likely relates to the legend of Saint Eligius, the patron saint of goldsmiths, blacksmiths, and coin collectors. In his legend, Eligius performed miracles, including this one where he is said to have shod a horse while it was still attached to the rider, a feat that would require immense skill and strength, symbolized by the blacksmiths effort and the presence of the horse. The woman might represent a client or someone witnessing the miracle. The detailed depiction of the forge, tools, and the horse suggests a focus on craft, skill, and the divine intervention that Elevates ordinary work to the miraculous.