St. Christopher
- Artist Culture
- French,
or Burgundian
or Flemish - Date
- last quarter 15th century
- Material
- Limestone
- collected or acquired in
- Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France, Europe
- possibly associated with
- Burgundy region, France, Europe
Europe - Classification
- Sculpture, stone & mineral
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 31 x 27 x 15 in. (78.7 x 68.6 x 38.1 cm)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 3:1934
NOTES
Christopher’s bent right arm and his dropped left shoulder suggest the action of walking. According to legend, Christopher was a man of great strength who ferried people across a river. When he carried the young Jesus, he found the weight nearly impossible to bear, and was told by Christ that he carried the weight of the world. Christopher became, therefore, the patron saint of travel, and almost always holds a large pole (sometimes even a palm tree) that he used in fording the water. The knees of the Christ Child can be seen on the saint’s shoulders just behind his head. The sensitive wrinkles at the corner of his eyes and his downcast, thoughtful gaze suggest he contemplates the significance of his unexpected passenger.
Provenance
- 1933
Georges P. Ryaux, Beauvais, France [1]
1933 - 1934
Brummer Gallery, Inc. (Joseph Brummer, d.1947), New York, NY, USA, purchased from Georges P. Ryaux [2]
1934 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Joseph Brummer Gallery [3]
Notes:
[1] The sculpture was found in a fragmented state near Arras, France [Brummer stockcard, viewed at Cloisters Library, described by Anabelle Kienle, could not be photocopied, notes in SLAM document files]. According to another stockcard for the "St. Christopher," the Joseph Brummer Gallery purchased the sculpture from Georges P. Ryaux [SLAM document files].
[2] See note [1]. An invoice from the Joseph Brummer Gallery records the date of sale to the Saint Louis Art Museum, and notes that the sculpture was buried in fragmented condition in a rubbish dump near the cathedral of Dijon, France [invoice dated January 8, 1934, SLAM document files]. Presumably, the earlier record (the stockcard naming the previous owner and the location of discovery as Arras), is correct.
[3] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, January 4, 1934.
Georges P. Ryaux, Beauvais, France [1]
1933 - 1934
Brummer Gallery, Inc. (Joseph Brummer, d.1947), New York, NY, USA, purchased from Georges P. Ryaux [2]
1934 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Joseph Brummer Gallery [3]
Notes:
[1] The sculpture was found in a fragmented state near Arras, France [Brummer stockcard, viewed at Cloisters Library, described by Anabelle Kienle, could not be photocopied, notes in SLAM document files]. According to another stockcard for the "St. Christopher," the Joseph Brummer Gallery purchased the sculpture from Georges P. Ryaux [SLAM document files].
[2] See note [1]. An invoice from the Joseph Brummer Gallery records the date of sale to the Saint Louis Art Museum, and notes that the sculpture was buried in fragmented condition in a rubbish dump near the cathedral of Dijon, France [invoice dated January 8, 1934, SLAM document files]. Presumably, the earlier record (the stockcard naming the previous owner and the location of discovery as Arras), is correct.
[3] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, January 4, 1934.