Statues - Hither & Thither

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Piazza San Martino
(Catedrale di San Martino)

San Martino

Saint Martin

Savaria, Pannonia (now Szombathely, Hungary), 316 - Candes-Saint-Martin, Gaul 397
3rd Bishop of Tours. Around his name much legendary material accrued and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints
(Wikipedia)

Medieval artist
1200-20 (copy)

Description

Marble statue of St. Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar, on two consoles at the façade of the St. Martin's Cathedral.

Saint Martin and the Beggar

While Martin was still a soldier in the Roman army and deployed in Gaul (modern day France), he experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. One day as he was approaching the gates of the city of Amiens he met a scantily clad beggar. He impulsively cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he has clad me." In another story, when Martin woke, his cloak was restored. The dream confirmed Martin in his piety, and he was baptized at the age of 18.

Artist

Unknown medieval artist.

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Cattedrale di San Martino (Lucca).
Italia nell'Arte Medievale, San Martino a Lucca (1).

Location (N 43°50'26" - E 10°30'19") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: itto151; Photograph: 16 May 2017
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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