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Saint Martin Offering the Wine Cup to the Priest

1430–35
Not on view
This roundel, together with three others in the Lehman Collection (1975.1.1906, 1975.1.1908, and 1975.1.1909), and two in The Cloisters Collection (47.101.63 and 47.101.64), form part of the same series of early fifteenth-century Franco-Flemish embroideries depicting scenes from the life of Saint Martin. Originally part of a much larger ensemble (thirty-six roundels and panels are now dispersed among public and private collections), the embroideries may have decorated a liturgical vestment, an altar frontal, or possibly a combination thereof, constituting a set of vestments.

In this banquet scene, Saint Martin, recognizable by his halo, dines with the Roman Emperor Maximus and the Empress Elen, shown at center, and a priest, at the far right. To the surprise of the guests, instead of offering the cup of wine to the Emperor, Martin passed it first to the priest, deeming it unjust to place the ruler ahead of a clergyman. In the foreground, two attendants dressed in green, assist with the tableware, exquisitely rendered with reflections of light.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Saint Martin Offering the Wine Cup to the Priest
  • Date: 1430–35
  • Culture: Flemish
  • Medium: Linen plain weave underlaid with linen plain weave and embroidered silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk in single satin, split, and stem stitches, laid work, and couching, including or nué
  • Dimensions: 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm) diameter
  • Classification: Textiles-Ecclesiastical
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1907
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

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Cosimo II de' Medici (1590–1621), Grand Duke of Tuscany, Justus Sustermans Flemish, Oil on canvas, transferred from wood, Flemish
Cosimo II de' Medici (1590–1621), Grand Duke of Tuscany
Workshop of Justus Sustermans
1597–1681
Saint Catherine in the Temple Arguing Against the Worship of Idols, Silk plain weave underlaid with linen plain weave embroidered with silk and gilt- and silvered-metal strip-wrapped silk in single satin, split, and stem stitches, laid work, and couching (including "or nué" and undersided couching), Flemish
Saint Catherine in the Temple Arguing Against the Worship of Idols
Flemish
1440–45
The Entombment, School of Antwerp South Netherlandish, Oak, South Netherlandish
The Entombment
School of Antwerp
early 16th century
Saint Martin and Saint Hilary, Linen plain weave underlaid with linen plain weave (two layers) and embroidered with silk and gilt-metal-strip-wrapped silk in single satin, split, and stem stitches, laid work, and couching, including or nué, Flemish
Saint Martin and Saint Hilary
Flemish
1430–35
Virgin Fainting at the Cross, Oak, South Netherlandish
Virgin Fainting at the Cross
South Netherlandish
early 16th century

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