THE CHARITY OF SAINT MARTIN Spain, 17th century Polychrome... Lot 10

THE CHARITY OF SAINT MARTIN Spain, 17th century Polychrome wood In its old condition; repainted H. 93.5 cm, W. 70 cm, D. 48 cm This large group carved in the round shows Saint Martin charitably sharing his cloak with a cripple. This is the most famous episode in the life of the saint who, born in Pannonia and the son of a Roman legionary, enlisted in the army. One day in the winter of 337, while he was in garrison at Amiens, he cut his coat in half to give half of it to a poor man he had met, shivering with cold, at the city gate. He would have given him only one half because the other half belonged to the Roman army...