Saint Christopher

Abstract

This over-life-size sculpture represents Saint Christopher, a giant martyred in the 6th century. According to his hagiography, Christopher served God by helping individuals cross over a river. One day, Christopher helped a young boy cross the river by placing him on his shoulder; the boy then revealed to him that he was Christ himself. The sculpture, created in the 16th century, was originally housed in the Church of the Santissima Annunziata in Capua. According to Agostino Pascale’s 1682 chronicle, it was donated to the church in gratitude after a boy named Christopher was rescued during the sack of Capua in 1501. It was later abandoned and left in a deteriorated state in the church’s attic until it was donated to the museum in 1888. Much of its original polychromy has chipped off, though some of the gilded decor is still visible on the edge of his clothing. St. Christopher has lost both his arm and staff, and is missing part of his legs, requiring the addition of a modern support to keep him upright. The figure of Jesus has also suffered damage, with one of his hands now missing. The sculpture is located in the Museo Campano in the same city. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.