Cleveland Museum of Art

St. Martin

Martin Schongauer

Date

1485–90

Medium

engraving

Culture

Germany

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Martin Schongauer was among the first artists to work extensively in engraving to create series such as the one depicting the saints. Here, Schongauer portrayed Saint Martin as a handsome youth with curly hair, in the midst of dividing his fur-lined cloak to share with a beggar seated at his feet. According to the legend on the life of Saint Martin, after sharing his cloak with the man, Martin later discovered in a dream that he had actually shared his mantle with Christ. Soon after, Martin was baptized and became the Bishop of Tours. Saint Martin was often represented as a knight on a horse; here, Schongauer alluded to the steed by placing a pair of spurs on Martin's boots.

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