Not currently on display at the V&A

St Paul

Panel
15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

St Paul stands with a book in his right hand and a sword in his left.

Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSt Paul (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved, painted and gilt alabaster
Brief description
Alabaster panel depicting St Paul. English, 15th century.
Physical description
The saint has a bifid beard and wears a cloak draped from his left shoulder over a gown. He holds a falchion, pointing downwards, in his left hand, and a closed book in his right. The binding on the spine of the book is carved.

The handle of the falchion is missing. The surface of the book is damaged. The top corners of the panel are missing. Faint traces of gilding remain on the saint's hair and beard and red on the folds of his cloak. There are two holes in the back of the panel plugged with lead.
Dimensions
  • Height: 42.2cm
  • Width: 13.3cm
From Cheetham, English Medieval Alabasters, 1984.
Style
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Vienna. On loan from him since 1926. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946.
Subjects depicted
Summary
St Paul stands with a book in his right hand and a sword in his left.

Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 137 (cat. 66), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0
Collection
Accession number
A.133-1946

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Record createdNovember 21, 2002
Record URL
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