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| View Original: | Spanish - Altar Frontal with Christ in Majesty and the Life of Saint Martin - Walters 371188.jpg (1800x1190) | |||
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| Keywords: Spanish - Altar Frontal with Christ in Majesty and the Life of Saint Martin - Walters 371188.jpg In western churches the altar itself was often richly adorned with frontals in a variety of media including carved and painted wood sculpted metal carved alabaster and richly woven textiles The use of an altar frontal called an antependium in Latin probably stems from the tradition of placing altars over the tombs or shrines of saints Many altar frontals include imagery related to the saint to whom the altar was dedicated This mid-thirteenth century example from Catalonia Spain has been painted with scenes from the life of Saint Martin Martin was a fourth-century soldier in the Roman army who abandoned that career to serve God According to the recorded story of his life while stationed in present-day France Martin met a barely dressed beggar on the road and cut his own cloak in half so that the man might be clothed That night Martin had a dream informing him that the beggar had been Christ Martin was then baptized eventually became the bishop of Tours and after his death became a widely popular saint At the upper left of this panel Martin on horseback gives half of his cloak to a beggar while at the upper right he has a vision of Christ wearing the cloak At the lower left the saint is ordained bishop of Tours in AD 372 and at the lower right his soul is carried to heaven by angels These scenes have been painted on a solid panel but the decorative borders of the work are reminiscent of textiles which were often used as altar frontals 1250 Medieval tempera on panel and stucco H 41 3/16 x W 62 3/8 x D approx 3 1/4 in 104 6 x 158 5 x approx 8 3 cm accession number 37 1188 19473 Roger Fry London before 1913 by purchase Henry Walters Baltimore August 30 1915 by purchase Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters 1915 Transcription In white paint on lower border of the altar frontal ANNO DOMINI MCCL ; Translation In white paint on lower border of the altar frontal Year of Our Lord 1250 The remaining line of text on the lower border is now illegible; Transcription In black paint on the white book in the hands of the enthroned Christ IHESUS/ DOMINUS; Translation In black paint on the white book in the hands of the enthroned Christ Jesus Lord; Transcription In black paint on the white banner held by eagle evangelist symbol to the upper right of Christ IOHANNES; Translation In black paint on the white banner held by eagle evangelist symbol to the upper right of Christ John; Transcription In black paint on the white banner held by lion evangelist symbol at the lower left of Christ MARCUS; Translation In black paint on the white banner held by lion evangelist symbol at the lower left of Christ Mark; Transcription In black letters on the white banner held by bull evangelist symbol to the lower right of Christ LUCAS; Translation In black letters on the white banner held by bull evangelist symbol to the lower right of Christ Luke Spanish Old Masters Grafton Galleries London 1913-1914 place of origin Catalonia Spain Walters Art Museum license 2D Medieval art in the Walters Art Museum Art of Catalonia Paintings in the Walters Art Museum Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Painted textiles | ||||
