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(Parvis de la Basilique Saint-Martin de Tours)

Calvaire La charité de Saint Martin de Tours

Calvary the Charity of Saint Martin of Tours

Savaria, Pannonia (now Szombathely, Hungary), 316 - Candes-Saint-Martin, Gaul 397
3rd Bishop of Tours. Around his name much legendary material accrued and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints
(Wikipedia)

Henri Varenne
1928

Tours / Calvaire La charité de Saint Martin de Tours

Description

Stone cross with in front a statue of Saint-Martin on horseback sharing his cloak with a beggar. To the side two statues of bishops of Tours:

(right) Saint Perpetuus / Saint Saint Perpétue, 6th bishop of Tours (458/459-488/489), and builder of the first basilica of Saint-Martin.
(left) Saint Gregory of Tours / Saint Grégoire, 19th bishop of Tours (538/573-593), historian of the church, the Franks and Auvergne (Wikipedia).

Inscription(s)

Signed (St. Martin): H. Varenne
(Perpetuus and Gregory): H.V. (on the base of each statue, not visible on our photos)

Saint Martin and the Beggar

Saint Martin is often depicted as a man on horseback sharing his cloak with a beggar. While Martin was still a soldier in the Roman army and deployed in Gaul (modern day France), he experienced the vision that became the most-repeated story about his life. One day as he was approaching the gates of the city of Amiens he met a scantily clad beggar. He impulsively cut his own military cloak in half and shared it with the beggar. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away. He heard Jesus say to the angels: "Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptized; he has clad me." In another story, when Martin woke, his cloak was restored. The dream confirmed Martin in his piety, and he was baptized at the age of 18.

Artist

Henri Frédéric Varenne (Chantilly 1860 - 1933), French sculptor.

Sources & Information

Un regard sur Tours, Calvaire La charité de Saint-Martin de Tours.

Location (N 47°23'33" - E 0°40'59") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: frce024; Photograph: 30 August 2011
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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