Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated

This time of year, it feels as if the city is overflowing with costumes, jack-o-lantern’s and trick-or-treaters! But in all the festivity, many of us tend to forget the origin of the holiday. Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ (Saints’) Eve, was historically a day for Christian worshipers to pray and prepare themselves for November 1, All Saints’ Day, a feast day dedicated to all the saints and martyrs of Christianity.

The DMA has a large number of artworks that depict saints, ranging in time period and media. I would like to take this occasion to highlight some of my favorites, from St. George slaying a dragon to St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters.

Albrecht Dürer, St. Paul, 1514, Dallas Museum of Art, Junior League Print Fund

Jusepe De Ribera, Saint James the Greater, 17th century, Dallas Museum of Art, The Karl and Esther Hoblitzelle Collection, gift of the Hoblitzelle Foundation.

Danube School, St. Sebastian, c. 1520, Dallas Museum of Art, Munger Fund

Albrecht Dürer, St. George on Foot, 1504-05, Dallas Museum of Art, bequest of Calvin J. Holmes

Matthew Benedict, Saint Florian, 1997-98, Dallas Museum of Art, Mary Margaret Munson Wilcox Fund.

Miguel Cabrera, Saint Gertrude (Santa Gertrudis), 1763, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Laura and Daniel D. Boeckman in honor of Dr. William Rudolph

For more information on any of these saints or works of art, check out the DMA Collections webpage! And from all of us here at the DMA, enjoy your All Saints’ Eve and Day!

Liz Bola
McDermott Graduate Intern for Gallery and Community Teaching