St Paul thumbnail 1
St Paul thumbnail 2
+3
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 50b, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery

St Paul

Statue
ca.1480 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Landshut (made)

Terracotta sculpture in Germany was often produced using moulds, so that several copies could be made. This figure was probably placed high up on a pier or pilaster of a church, hence the downward glance.

St Paul (born Saul) was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus when the voice of God challenged him for persecuting Christians. The book in his left hand refers to his preaching of the Christian faith to the Gentiles. He was often paired with St Peter, as they were considered to have founded the Christian church together.


Object details

Categories
Christianity
Sculpture
Religion
Object type
Statue
TitleSt Paul (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted terracotta
Terracotta
Painting
Brief description
Statue, painted terracotta, St. Paul, South Germany, Bavaria (Landshut), ca. 1480
Physical description
Figure of St Paul, his beard styled in to two cone shapes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 100cm
  • Width: 37cm
  • Depth: 25cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Object history
Bought from the Colli brothers, Innsbruck, along with A. 37-1910 in 1910.

Historical significance: Terracotta sculpture flourished in Bavaria in the 15th century, particularly in the Ducal cities of Straubing and Landshut. During the second quarter of the 15th century Straubing appears to have been dominan while in the second half of the century the production in Landshut reached its peak.
Historical context
St Paul formed part of a cycle of Apostles positioned high up on pilasters or piers, similar to the ensemble of terracotto figures preserved in the choir and aisles of the St Martin church in Landshut.
Subjects depicted
Figure, Male
St. Paul
Summary
Terracotta sculpture in Germany was often produced using moulds, so that several copies could be made. This figure was probably placed high up on a pier or pilaster of a church, hence the downward glance.

St Paul (born Saul) was converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus when the voice of God challenged him for persecuting Christians. The book in his left hand refers to his preaching of the Christian faith to the Gentiles. He was often paired with St Peter, as they were considered to have founded the Christian church together.
Bibliographic references
  • Jopek, Norbert. German Sculpture 1430-1540, A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2002, pp. 118-119, cat.no. 53b
  • Baxandall, Michael. South German Sculpture, 1480-1530. VAM, London, 1974
  • Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, pp. 42-43, pl. 69
  • Hirsch, Martin, Die spaetgotische Tonplastik in Altbayern und den angrenzenden Regionen, Fulda, 2010, p. 162, cat. no. 56.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.38-1910

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Record createdMay 10, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O98447/st-paul-statue-unknown/
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