H. Martinus deelt zijn mantel met een bedelaar 1825 - 1883

Theodoor Schaepkens made this etching, ‘H. Martinus deelt zijn mantel met een bedelaar’, in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. It's a representation of Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who later became a bishop, sharing his cloak with a beggar. The image reflects a culture deeply rooted in Christian values, particularly charity and compassion. The act of Martin sharing his cloak is not just an act of kindness, but a powerful statement about social responsibility, challenging the norms of a society often divided by class and wealth. The work invites us to reflect on the role of the church in the lives of people at that time. To better understand this etching, we might turn to historical accounts of social welfare in the 19th-century Netherlands, as well as studies of religious art and its function in shaping public morality. Art like this serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting and shaping societal values.