ticketsMember | Make a donation

Saint Bavo

ca. 1460
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 305
Though this man has the armor, sword, and swagger of a soldier, the jewels on his hat imply a pompous love of luxury. The combination identifies him as Saint Bavo, who was transformed from a spoiled aristocrat to a humble monk after hearing a Christian sermon. Here, he grasps a leather-bound book that conveniently forms a bag when closed, allowing it to be carried or hung from a belt. To medieval eyes, it was both a fashionable commodity associated with Bavo’s wealth and a reminder of the profound power of sacred texts.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Bavo
  • Date: ca. 1460
  • Geography: Made in Utrecht (?), Netherlands
  • Culture: North Netherlandish
  • Medium: Limestone with traces of paint
  • Dimensions: 44 1/4 × 17 × 14 1/4 in. (112.4 × 43.2 × 36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Stone
  • Credit Line: The Bequest of Michael Dreicer, 1921
  • Object Number: 22.60.4a, b
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Mourning Woman, Walnut, polychromy and gilding, South Netherlandish
Mourning Woman
South Netherlandish
ca. 1480
Virgin and Child, Claus de Werve Netherlandish, Limestone with paint and gilding, French
Virgin and Child
Claus de Werve
ca. 1415–17
Entombment of Christ, Limestone, polychromy, French
Entombment of Christ
French
ca. 1515
Saint Margaret of Antioch, Alabaster, with traces of gilding, French
Saint Margaret of Antioch
French
ca. 1475
Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross, Master of Rimini, Alabaster, South Netherlandish
Mary Magdalene at the Foot of the Cross
Master of Rimini
ca. 1420–30

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.