Cleveland Museum of Art
Saint Martin of Tours
- Date
- c. 1480–1500
- Medium
- polychromed walnut
- Culture
- Northeast France or Flanders, 15th century
- Department
- Medieval Art
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
According to tradition, Saint Martin was born during the reign of Constantine the Great (306–37 CE) and served as a member of the Roman cavalry in Gaul. There he earned a reputation for humility and boundless charity. During the severe winter of 322 CE at Amiens, Martin's compassion for others led him to divide his cloak with his sword, and to give half to a poor, naked beggar. This event, along with Martin's subsequent vision of the beggar as Christ, eventually led to the saint's widespread popularity throughout medieval Europe. Saint Martin was particularly venerated in the city of Tours where he served as bishop, where his tomb is located, and of which he remains the patron saint.
The authoritative record is held by Cleveland Museum of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
Related across collections
Semantically similar works from Cleveland Museum of Art and other institutions.
Saint Martin and the Beggar
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Saint Martin Dividing His Cloak with a Beggar
Getty Museum
Saint Martin and the Beggar
Cleveland Museum of Art
St. Martin
Cleveland Museum of Art
Saint Martin and the Beggar
Art Institute of Chicago
Saint Martin with His Horse on a Ship
Cleveland Museum of Art
SAINT MARTIN, / EVEQUE DE TOURS (titre inscrit, français, allemand, gothique)
Joconde
Saint Martin with his Horse in a Ship
Art Institute of Chicago
Diptych with Scenes from the Life of Saint Martin of Tours: The Consecration of Saint Martin as Bishop (left); Saint Martin Shares his Cloak with a Beggar
Cleveland Museum of Art
SAINT MARTIN EVEQUE DE TOURS (titre inscrit)
Joconde
SAINT MARTIN, EVEQUE / Priez pour nous (titre inscrit)
Joconde
A Bishop's Crozier
Minneapolis Institute of Art