Saint Bavo
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
- 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
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