Artwork
Saint Martin and the Beggar
Saint Martin and the Beggar is an ink print by the Baroque artist Balthasar Moncornet. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1634, this black‑and‑white print by French artist Balthasar Moncornet portrays the legendary act of Saint Martin dividing his cloak for a destitute figure. Executed as an engraving, the composition balances a central equestrian figure with a humble beggar, set against a modest landscape that includes trees, a small structure, and distant travelers.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates the well‑known episode from Christian hagiography in which Saint Martin, a Roman soldier, encounters a beggar and slices his military mantle in two, offering half to the needy man. This gesture, emblematic of charity and humility, serves as a visual sermon on the virtues of generosity and compassion within the religious tradition.
Technique & Style
Moncornet employed fine, intersecting lines and delicate cross‑hatching to render textures—from the sheen of the cloak to the foliage in the background—creating a sense of depth on the paper. The engraving’s tonal gradations, achieved through varied line density, convey volume and atmosphere while maintaining the crisp clarity characteristic of 17th‑century French printmaking.
History & Provenance
Balthasar Moncornet, active as a painter, engraver, and tapestry designer in the early 1600s, produced roughly forty‑five portraits of notable contemporaries.
Balthasar Moncornet, active as a painter, engraver, and tapestry designer in the early 1600s, produced roughly forty‑five portraits of notable contemporaries. Unlike most of his portrait work, this piece turns to a biblical narrative, reflecting the period’s demand for devotional imagery. The print’s original ownership records are sparse, but it remains documented in several European print collections dating from the late 17th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Balthasar Moncornet (1600, Rouen – 1668, Paris) was a French painter, engraver, and tapissier revered for his depictions of around 45 different prominent figures of the 17th century.
