The 3 Children saved by St. Nicholas - Flanders 16th century

Part of a Saint Nicholas group: these are the 3 children that – according to the legend – had been slaughtered, cut in pieces and pickled in a wooden barrel by a butcher in order to be sold as veal. Saint Nicholas miraculously raised them from the dead. A true friend of the children indeed! They are looking upwards in the direction of the face of Saint Nicholas, their saviour. Considering the serious size of this children group (43x32x13cm), the statue of the Saint must have been at least 120cm. Solid oak, probably Flanders / North of France ca1500. Weathered, losses to the paint, nose of the first child probably restored, backside of the tub weathered. Old iron hook on backside. With stand. Dimensions: 43x32x13cm. Charming.
Reference: a very similar group (with the 3 children in exactly the same position in the tub) can be found on page 254 (illustration 324) of the "Statuaire Médiévale en France de 1400-1530 VOL 1" by Jacqueline Boccador. It is Saint Nicolas from Moustiers-Saint-Jean (second half of 15th century).