Saint Martin de Porres (sculpture) facts for kids

The sculpture Saint Martin de Porres is a famous artwork by American artist and Catholic priest Father Thomas McGlynn. This special statue is one of McGlynn's best-known pieces. You can find it in places like Providence College in Rhode Island and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Washington, D.C.. It shows Martin de Porres, a respected saint.

What the Sculpture Looks Like

This sculpture shows Saint Martin de Porres standing tall. He wears a long robe called a cassock with a belt. He also wears shoes. His head is tilted down, and his eyes are slightly closed. This makes him look like he is thinking deeply or praying.

In his right hand, he holds a cross close to his chest. His left hand rests on his leg. A broom is tucked under his arm. Some versions of the sculpture also show small rats at his feet. Usually, there are two or three rats.

About Father Thomas McGlynn

Father Thomas McGlynn was born on May 23, 1906. His parents were Frank McGlynn and Rose O'Beirne. On September 8, 1925, he joined the Dominican Order and became Brother Matthew.

He became a priest on May 20, 1932, in Washington, D.C. He studied sculpture in Rome, Italy, and earned his degree in 1934. After that, he returned to the United States. He continued his art studies at Cranbrook Educational Community with artist Carl Milles.

Father McGlynn also taught at Providence College for a while. In 1956, he went to Pietrasanta, Italy. He was asked to create a sculpture of Our Lady of Fatima. He stayed in Italy until he passed away on September 3, 1977.

Why the Sculpture Was Made

When Father McGlynn was young, he did not fully understand how people were treated differently because of their race. He even used words that were not kind to describe African Americans. But everything changed when he became a priest.

He said that meeting Saint Martin de Porres helped him see things differently. This experience inspired him to create the sculpture. It helped him understand and respect all people.

Where You Can Find the Sculptures

There are four main versions of the Saint Martin de Porres sculpture. Many people believe this artwork helped Saint Martin de Porres become a saint in 1962.

Original Plaster Version

The very first version of the sculpture was made of plaster. In 1962, this original piece was kept at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.

Vatican City Version

A small version of the sculpture was made for the Vatican. It was finished in 1962.

Providence College Sculptures

Providence College has two copies of the sculpture. One is in front of Martin Hall. The other is at the McGlynn Sculpture Court. This court is named after Father McGlynn.

Martin Hall Sculpture

The sculpture at Martin Hall is the fourth one in the series. It is made of bronze and is about 7 feet tall. This version does not have rats at the saint's feet. It was copyrighted in 1958 and placed there on November 3, 1979. Father McGlynn originally designed this one for a cemetery. He thought people might not like rats on a sculpture in a cemetery.

McGlynn Sculpture Court Version

The second sculpture at McGlynn Sculpture Court is also made of bronze. It is about 48 inches tall. This one does have small rats at the saint's feet. It was created in 1962 and cast in 1963. It was dedicated on October 2, 1993. This sculpture stands in a small fountain. The Sculpture Court was built after the Dominican Province of St. Joseph gave their McGlynn art collection to the college in 1980.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Sculpture

This version of the sculpture is made of wood and is about 12 and a half feet tall. It does not have rats at the saint's feet. It was dedicated on May 27, 1989. A group called the St. Martin de Porres Guild helped make this happen. A church member named Mary A. Cooke provided money for the statue. She wanted it inside the church school, but it is placed outside.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh Sculpture

On November 3, 2009, a four-foot-tall version of the sculpture was given to St. Joseph's parish in Raleigh, North Carolina. This sculpture is made of black carrara marble. It was made from the 1930 design in a foundry in Rhode Island. It sits on a white marble table made by a parish member. Father McGlynn worked in Raleigh from 1947 to 1954.

St. Martin de Porres Shrine & Institute, Memphis, Tennessee

The chapel at this shrine has a small version of the 1930 sculpture. It is displayed with a relic of Saint Martin. A relic is a special object connected to a saint. The chapel also has a beautiful stained-glass window and icons by artist Pam Hassler.