Circle of Benedetto Luti (Florence 1666-1724 Rome)

Saint Eligius trained as a goldsmith and much of his cult is based around the legend in which he helped a blacksmith shoe a fractious horse. As a result, he is the patron saint of goldsmiths, metal-workers, blacksmiths, farriers, saddlers, leather-workers and horse-dealers.
We are grateful to Paul Taylor of the Warburg Institute for identifying the saint in this painting.