Artwork
Saint Martin Dividing His Cloak
Saint Martin Dividing His Cloak is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1410 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This stained-glass panel, titled Saint Martin Dividing His Cloak, depicts a pivotal moment of charity. A figure in vibrant red and blue robes is shown cutting his garment with a knife, offering a portion to a barefoot individual seated on the ground below. The composition emphasizes a gesture of compassion, set against a stylized background common to the medium.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork illustrates the well-known narrative of Saint Martin of Tours, who, as a Roman soldier, famously shared his cloak with a shivering beggar. This act of generosity became a foundational story of Christian charity and humility. The panel captures the precise moment of division, highlighting the saint's compassionate response to human need.
Technique & Style
The figures are rendered with flat areas of red and blue, lacking the subtle gradations of light and shadow that create three-dimensional form.
Executed in stained glass, the panel features a distinctive aesthetic characterized by bold, unmodulated colors. The figures are rendered with flat areas of red and blue, lacking the subtle gradations of light and shadow that create three-dimensional form. A golden halo identifies the standing figure, while the background incorporates decorative blue swirls and gold stars, typical of the medium's decorative qualities.
Artist & collection
