Oil on Canvas 200cmx150cm. 2016
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ST. MARTIN OF TOURSThis painting depicts the alleged story of St. Martin (316 - 397 AD) sharing his cloak with a scantily clad beggar on a cold winter day. Jesus said, “Whatever you do for your brother, you do it for me.” Have you shared a cup of water with a stranger lately?
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The Story behind the Painting
Saint Martin of Tours was born in Hungary as a son of a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Horse Guard. Martin and his family went to Pavia, Italy, where his father was assigned to a post. It was here that Martin grew up. At the age of ten he attended the Christian church against the wishes of his parents, and became a catechumen. (someone instructed in the Christian faith.)
At fifteen, as the son of a veteran officer, Martin was required to join the elite cavalry bodyguard of the Emperor, stationed at Milan and Treves. At the age of 18, he was stationed at Amiens, France, where he lived most of his adult life.
While Martin was a soldier in the Roman army and stationed in France, he had a vision, which became the most-repeated story about his life. One day, in the depth of winter, as he was approaching the gates of the city of Amiens, he met a scantily clad beggar. Martin removed his cloak and with his military sword, he cut it in half to share it with the beggar. He dressed himself in the remnant. That night, Martin had a vision in which Christ appeared to him. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with his robe."
In another version, when Martin woke, he found his cloak restored to wholeness. The dream confirmed Martin in his piety, and he was baptized at the age of 18.
The part of the cloak kept by him became a famous relic. During the Middle Ages, the relic of St. Martin’s miraculous cloak, (cappa Sancti Martini) was carried by the king even into battle, and used as a holy relic upon which oaths were sworn.
The priest who cared for the cloak was called a cappellanu, and ultimately all priests who served the military were called cappellanii, from which the English word chaplain is derived.
Small churches built for the relic were called “capella’ meaning “little cloak”, from which the English word “chapel” is derived.
Saint Martin of Tours was born in Hungary as a son of a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Horse Guard. Martin and his family went to Pavia, Italy, where his father was assigned to a post. It was here that Martin grew up. At the age of ten he attended the Christian church against the wishes of his parents, and became a catechumen. (someone instructed in the Christian faith.)
At fifteen, as the son of a veteran officer, Martin was required to join the elite cavalry bodyguard of the Emperor, stationed at Milan and Treves. At the age of 18, he was stationed at Amiens, France, where he lived most of his adult life.
While Martin was a soldier in the Roman army and stationed in France, he had a vision, which became the most-repeated story about his life. One day, in the depth of winter, as he was approaching the gates of the city of Amiens, he met a scantily clad beggar. Martin removed his cloak and with his military sword, he cut it in half to share it with the beggar. He dressed himself in the remnant. That night, Martin had a vision in which Christ appeared to him. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Martin, who is still but a catechumen, clothed me with his robe."
In another version, when Martin woke, he found his cloak restored to wholeness. The dream confirmed Martin in his piety, and he was baptized at the age of 18.
The part of the cloak kept by him became a famous relic. During the Middle Ages, the relic of St. Martin’s miraculous cloak, (cappa Sancti Martini) was carried by the king even into battle, and used as a holy relic upon which oaths were sworn.
The priest who cared for the cloak was called a cappellanu, and ultimately all priests who served the military were called cappellanii, from which the English word chaplain is derived.
Small churches built for the relic were called “capella’ meaning “little cloak”, from which the English word “chapel” is derived.