St Martin and the Beggar
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
- Credit Line:
Bequeathed by Sir Victor Wellesley
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Sculpture, room 111, case DR6
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Ivory was popular as a material for religious subjects, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries. Spanish and Portuguese patrons imported ivories carved with Christian imagery from their territories overseas, such as the Philippines, Mexico and Goa. German and Netherlandish artists were renowned for their dexterity in ivory carving. Their reliefs are masterpieces of composition and virtuosity. St Martin is shown dividing his cloak to give half to a beggar.
This composition is based on a Netherlandish print. The Chinese carver copied the devotional inscription in Latin from the print ("He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again"), but the cursive script underneath, which probably gave the names of the engraver and publisher of the source were rendered indecipherable on the ivory.
Physical description
St. Martin on horseback, divides his cloak with a sword and is presenting it to the beggar on the right of the relief. Behind the beggar and slightly further to the right is a young man, above him the branches of a tree. On the left are two older male figures, before an architectural background, and below them, a hound. At the foot of the relief is a panel with two inscriptions, the first: FOENERATUR DOMINO, QUI MISERETUR FAVERIS / ET VICISSITUDINEM SUAM REDDET EI / PROVEB. XIX; the second in a cursive script underneath is indecipherable.
Place of Origin
Guangdong, China (made)
Date
ca. 1650-1720 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Carved ivory
Marks and inscriptions
'FOENERATUR DOMINO, QUI MISERETUR FAVERIS / ET VICISSITUDINEM SUAM REDDET EI / PROVEB. XIX.'; the second in a cursive script underneath is indecipherable. 'He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.'
Indecipherable. Probably gave the names of the engraver and publisher of the Netherlandish print it copied.
Dimensions
Height: 14.5 cm, Width: 9.5 cm
Object history note
Bequeathed by Sir Victor A. A. H. Wellesley.
Historical significance: This is based on a Netherlandish print. The Chinese carver copied the devotional inscription in Latin from the print ("He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again"), but the cursive script underneath, which probably gave the names of the engraver and publisher of the source were rendered indecipherable on the ivory.
Descriptive line
Relief, ivory, depicting St Martin dividing his cloak with the beggar, China (Canton), ca.1650-1720
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Clunas, Craig. Chinese Carving, London, 1996, pp. 15-16 and fig. 3
Production Note
Based on a Netherlandish print. By a Chinese carver.
Materials
Ivory
Techniques
Carving
Subjects depicted
Swords; Charity; Poverty; Cloaks; Martin (Saint)
Categories
Sculpture; Christianity; Reliefs
Collection code
SCP
