Object details
Accession number
S10s1
Primary Creator
Italian, Northern Italy
Full title
Saint Christopher
Creation Date
early 16th century
Provenance
Purchased by Isabella Stewart Gardner from the antique dealer A. Clerle, Venice for 200 lire on 27 September 1897.
Dimensions
109.2 x 41.9 cm (43 x 16 1/2 in.)
Display Media
Istrian Stone
Web Commentary
Made of Istrian stone, this sculpture of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child watches over the North Cloister. Saint Christopher is the patron saint and protector of travelers in Christian religions. According to legend, he carried the Christ Child over a river, and, as a reward, his walking staff turned into a flowering fruit tree. Isabella positioned this statue close to the lush, verdant courtyard—perhaps in reference to his flowery staff.
Permanent Gallery Location
East, North, and West Cloister
Bibliography
Catalogue. Fenway Court. (Boston, 1903), p. 3. (as "figure of S. Christopher")
Gilbert Wendel Longstreet and Morris Carter. General Catalogue (Boston, 1935), pp. 62-63. (as North Italian, late 15th century)
Cornelius C. Vermeule III et al. Sculpture in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, 1977), pp. 141-42, no. 175. (as North Italian, early 16th century)
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