Italian, Northern Italy
Deacon Saint, early 16th century
Limestone (with traces of polychromy visible) , 91.4 x 39.4 cm (36 x 15 1/2 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
This high relief sculpture is carved from limestone. The saint barely fits in their shallow, rectangular, stone niche with a semicircle of rectangular carved bars radiating from behind their head. Their pose is frontal and their gaze is directly at the viewer. Their hair is cut in a bowl like tonsure. They have close set eyes with narrow lid margins, thick eyebrows, and a long straight nose. Their thin lips are slightly parted. They hold a book in their left hand and a rounded lantern by a chain in their right. They wear a floor length robe from which the tip of their left shoe peeks out. Over their robe they wear a long, plain vestment with long, flowing sleeves and a prominent pointed collar. From their left sleeve hangs a thin, carved cloth decorated with a cross.
Courtyard
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.