St Margaret
Panel
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
St Margaret carries a cross and is accompanied by a dragon. These emblems refer to the legend that she was swallowed by the Devil in the form of a dragon. When she made the sign of the cross the dragon's belly burst and she was able to escape unharmed.
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.
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 | |
| Title | St Margaret (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted alabaster |
| Brief description | Alabaster panel depicting St Margaret. English, 15th century. |
| Physical description | The crowned saint, wearing a gown and cloak, looks down to her right at her emblem, the winged dragon lying across the width of the panel at her feet, into whose upturned mouth she thrusts a cross-staff. The dragon has a knotted tail. The eyes of the saint are unusually large. In her right hand she carries a closed book, carved with a clumsy attempt at perspective. The dragon's tail is broken and the top corners of the panel are missing. There are traces of yellow on the crown and the cross, but this looks modern. There are slight traces of black and red on the dragon and green on the ground at the bottom of the panel. The back of the panel has three lead-plugged holes and one other hole. The bottom has been slightly chipped away. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in America. On loan to the Museum by Dr Hildburgh since 1937. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | St Margaret carries a cross and is accompanied by a dragon. These emblems refer to the legend that she was swallowed by the Devil in the form of a dragon. When she made the sign of the cross the dragon's belly burst and she was able to escape unharmed. 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. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 128 (cat. 57), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.191-1946 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 27, 2002 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
