Donation of the Rosary with Saint Martin
Oil on canvas
H. 109 cm; W. 91.5 cm
18th century
Attributed to Joseph Regnault
Orne, Le Renouard, Le Mesnil-Imbert
Inv. 998.198.4
© CD 61 / Thierry Ollivier

The iconography is only partially consistent with the account of Saint Dominic's vision: the Virgin, seated in a cloud, does present the chapelet to Dominic, kneeling in profile before him, with fleurs-de-lis and the dog holding the flaming torch at his feet, but the Child Jesus holds up a phylactery connected to the elaborate crosier of Saint Martin dressed in a lavish cope. Standing around the bishop are three children of the choir: one presents him with an open book, the other two bear his signs of jurisdiction: the miter, the stole, and the crosier. The Latin inscription on the phylactery refers to the legendary episode of Saint Martin's Charity, when, while still a Roman soldier, in front of the walls of Amiens, he meets a poor man with whom he shares his robe. The following night he saw a vision of Christ covered with half of his robe turning to the angels around him and saying to them: “Martin, still only a catechumen (preparing for Baptism), clothed me with this robe.”