Saint Martin and the Beggar
maker
Unknown
Dateabout 1520
Place MadeBavaria, Germany, Europe
MediumPolychromed lindenwood
Dimensions124.5 cm (49 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
Accession numberS21n5
Status
Not on viewWeb Commentary
The young Saint Martin was a Roman soldier in France. One bitterly cold day he came upon a disabled beggar. Martin cut his military cloak in half in order to share it with the beggar. That night Christ, dressed in half of the cloak, appeared to Martin in a vision and commended the young soldier for his kindness and charity. Martin later became bishop of the French city of Tours. Conceived as a relief to be placed against a flat surface, this lively sculpture shows the saint dividing his cloak. Both the relative sizes of the figures and the contrast in their clothing emphasize the differences between them.
Id717345
Last Updated9/7/24
EmbARK ObjectID13467
Source ID2398
Object/Provenance
