St Paul thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

St Paul

Panel
ca. 1400 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This panel forms a pair with a panel of St Peter, object number A.83-1946. The saint is shown bearded standing under an embattled canopy wearing a gown and a cloak draped from his shoulders. He holds a closed book in his right hand and in his left a double edged sword, his emblem.

St Peter and St Paul are outstanding figures in the Christian Church. Both saints share a feast day.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSt Paul (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved, painted and gilt alabaster
Brief description
Panel, alabaster, St Paul, England, ca. 1400.
Physical description
The saint stands under an embattled canopy. He has a bifid beard and is represented, according to tradition, as balding. He holds a closed book in his right hand and his emblem, a double-edged sword, upright in his left. He wears a gown and a cloak draped from his shoulders.

The left-hand corners of the panel are chipped. The front of the three-sided base of the panel has been scratched with the letters 'P I E R I RO.' Slight traces of green paint remain on the ground at the bottom of the panel. Much gilding remains on the background, with traces of gesso knobs. There is gilding on the saint's beard and hair and on the edges of his robes. The blade of his sword is painted dark brown. His book is coloured green (now darkened) overpainted with a red pattern.

The back of the panel bears two lead-filled plugs, one with the remains of some latten strips. Almost the whole of the length of the centre of the panel has been scooped away and especially the bottom.
Dimensions
  • Height: 43.7cm
  • Width: 15.2cm
From Cheetham, English Medieval Alabasters, 1984.
Style
Marks and inscriptions
'P I E R I RO' (On the front of the three-sided base of the panel.; incising)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Formerly in the collection of Captian Manhés, Périgueux, France. Int he possession of P. Nelson from whom it was on loan from 1924 to 1926. Acquired by Dr W.L. Hildburgh and on loan from him since 1926. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This panel forms a pair with a panel of St Peter, object number A.83-1946. The saint is shown bearded standing under an embattled canopy wearing a gown and a cloak draped from his shoulders. He holds a closed book in his right hand and in his left a double edged sword, his emblem.

St Peter and St Paul are outstanding figures in the Christian Church. Both saints share a feast day.
Associated object
A.83-1946 (Set)
Bibliographic references
  • Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 135 (cat. 64), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0
  • Derveaux-Van Ussel, Gh. Exposition de Sculptures Anglaises et Malinoises d'Albâtre, Bruxelles : Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, 1967 no.67
Collection
Accession number
A.84-1946

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Record createdNovember 18, 2002
Record URL
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