Saint Martin de Porres (sculpture)

Saint Martin de Porres
Artist	Fr. Thomas McGlynn
Year	1963

Saint Martin de Porres is an artwork by American artist and Catholic priest Father Thomas McGlynn. This sculpture, one of McGlynn's most well known works and is found in the collection of Providence College in Rhode Island, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Washington, D.C., among others. It is a statue of Saint Martin de Porres.

The sculpture is a standing figure of Saint Martin de Porres wearing a cassock with a belt at the waist, he wears shoes. His head looks downwards, eyes somewhat closed, as if in deep thought or prayer. In his proper right hand he holds a cross to his chest and his proper left hand grips his leg with a broom under his arm. Some of the works of this piece feature the Saint looking down at rats that have gathered at his feet, often featuring 2-3 rats.

McGlynn was born May 23, 1906 to Frank McGlynn and Rose O'Beirne. On September 8, 1925 he received the habit of the Dominican Order, taking the name Brother Matthew. At Dominic's Church in Washington, D.C., he was ordained a priest on May 20, 1932 by Archbishop Michael Joseph Curley. Receiving his degree in sculpture in Rome, Italy in 1934 and returned to the United States to study at Cranbrook Educational Community studying under Carl Milles. After apostolic ministry and serving as faculty member at Providence College (1937–1938 and 1946), he went to Pietrasanta, Italy in 1956 commissioned to create a sculpture of Our Lady of Fatima and he remained in the country until his death on September 3, 1977.

...
Wikipedia