Artwork
Roundel with Saint Martin and the Beggar
Roundel with Saint Martin and the Beggar is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This circular painting, known as a roundel, illustrates a pivotal moment of charity.
About this work
Overview
This circular painting, known as a roundel, illustrates a pivotal moment of charity. It features a figure on horseback, identified as Saint Martin, engaged in an act of compassion with a naked beggar. The composition captures the dynamic interaction between the two figures, highlighting the narrative's central theme of generosity.
Subject & Meaning
Martin, mounted and clad in a distinctive hat and flowing robe, uses his sword to divide his military cloak, offering a portion to the unclothed beggar.
The artwork depicts Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier, encountering a destitute man. Martin, mounted and clad in a distinctive hat and flowing robe, uses his sword to divide his military cloak, offering a portion to the unclothed beggar. The beggar, reaching upwards, receives the garment, symbolizing Martin's renowned act of selflessness and Christian charity, a narrative central to his veneration.
Artist & collection
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