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

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