. Sacred and legendary art . his extremity,already wrapped one end of the mantle around his nakedshivering body, while St. Martin prepares to yield it to himby dividing it with his sword. There is nothing here of the, heroic self-complacencyof the saint in Vandyckspicture; but the expres-sion is so calm, so simple— the benign humility ofthe air and countenanceis in such affecting con-trast with the prancingsteed and panoply of war,that it is impossible notto feel that the paintermust have been pene-trated by the beauty andsignificance of the story,as well as by the char-acter of the saint. The
. Sacred and legendary art . his extremity,already wrapped one end of the mantle around his nakedshivering body, while St. Martin prepares to yield it to himby dividing it with his sword. There is nothing here of the, heroic self-complacencyof the saint in Vandyckspicture; but the expres-sion is so calm, so simple— the benign humility ofthe air and countenanceis in such affecting con-trast with the prancingsteed and panoply of war,that it is impossible notto feel that the paintermust have been pene-trated by the beauty andsignificance of the story,as well as by the char-acter of the saint. The famous picture byVandyck at Windsor is astriking instance of thehistorical treatment instyle and St. Martin, a finemartial figure wearing acap and feather, brilliantwith youth and grace, and a sort of condescending good-nature,advances on his white charger, and turning, with his drawnsword, is in act to divide his rich scarlet cloak with a coarsesqualid beggar, while a gypsy-looking woman, with black hair. St. Martin (Martin Schoen) ST. MARTIN OF TOURS 711 streaming to the winds, holds up her child to receive the bene-diction of the saint. It is said that Vandyck has here repre-sented himself mounted on the white charger which Rubenshad presented to him; certainly the whole picture glows withlife, animated expression, and dramatic power ; but it is whollydeficient in that deep religious feeling which strikes us inthe altar-piece of Carotto, and leaves an impression on thememory not trivial nor transitory, — Whence grace, through which the heart may understand,And vows, that bind the will, in silence made! The other incidents in the life of St. Martin are less peculiarand attractive, and are not often met with separately. The mira-cle of the globe of fire, called ^ La Messe de Saint Martin,was painted by Le Sueur for the abbey of Marmoutier. It isa composition of fifteen figures. St. Martin stands before thealtar; he is characteristically represented as of l
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