SAINT MARGARET OF ANTIOCH
Statue of Saint Margaret of Antioch
- 15th century
- Multi-coloured oak
- Ht. 85cm
- France
The saint holds part of her garment in her left hand and probably held the Bible or a cross in her right hand, but it has since been lost. The sculpture still has its original colours. The rear of the statue was sculpted using the ronde-bosse technique, and a thick lock of hair can be seen behind it.
This legendary saint was born in Antioch in the late 3rd century. She converted to Christianity, made a vow of virginity and refused the advances of the Roman governor Olibrius.
Legend has it that she was swallowed by a monster, and that she miraculously pierced its belly with a Cross and escaped unharmed.
This is why she is usually depicted standing over a dragon. According to Jacobus de Voragine in The Golden Legend (13th century), she trampled on the dragon to defeat it. But her martyrdom continued, and she was beheaded.
This traditional depiction using medieval imagery highlights the dragon, an evil tempter, which Christian faith and thinking fought against. Christianity saw in dragons a symbol of evil and paganism.
SAINT MARGARET AND THE CASTLE CHURCH
Saint Margaret is the patron saint of Penne Castle, which from the year 1000 AD stood on its rocky spur. The remains of it can be seen today among the vestiges in the castle-keep area.
Saint Margaret Church in Penne Castle was mentioned in 1384 in an oath taken by Raimond de Caussade as part of an agreement with the Viscount of Bruniquel on the « altar of Saint Margaret in Penne Castle ». During his visit to the castle ruins in 1821, the scholar and archaeologist Alexandre Du Mège also mentions that the church was dedicated to Saint Margaret and states that in the past « an image of the saint » was shown « with great veneration ». It had been destroyed before his visit and replaced by a new statue of the saint in the town church of Penne.
It should be noted that churches dedicated to Saint Margaret were few and far between in the south of France during the Middle Ages.
Saint Margaret of Antioch, alabaster and traces of gilding, about 1475, Toulouse (?), Metropolitan Museum of Art. 39 cm high.
Modillion showing Saint Margaret emerging from the dragon, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val
