Saint Florian, Polychrome Poplar Wood, Central Europe, 18th Century

A polychrome wooden sculpture designed to be viewed in the round, depicting Saint Florian. Saint Florian is portrayed as a Roman soldier holding a bucket, extinguishing the fire on a burning cathedral. In the 15th century, Saint Florian was attributed patronage and protection against fires. In popular iconography, he is distinguished by a water bucket and is often shown in the act of saving a building from flames. The saint’s cult gained widespread popularity in Austria and neighboring countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and Northern Italy. Similar Baroque sculptures, often monumental in scale, featuring ancient Roman-style attire with abundant gilding, can be observed in the Budapest Museum.

HxLxD 35,24in x 13,39in x 11,42in

Provenance
Private Collection

Defects, missing parts and restorations.