Flemish - Pilgrim Badge with Saint Adrian - Walters 55102
Summary
Lead badges such as this one were purchased by pilgrims as mementos of holy sites they had visited. Originally there were loops at top and bottom for the pilgrim to sew the badges onto a hat or cloak. This example represents Saint Adrian.
Saint Adrian holds in his left hand a sword and a banner, inscribed with his name: S. ADRIANUS. In his right hand, he holds an upended hammer on an anvil. These tools refer to the martyrdom of the saint, a 3rd-century Roman officer who, upon conversion to Christianity, was placed upon an anvil and broken by hammer blows. He stands on a lion, symbol of courage, and of Flanders, where this badge was made to commemorate the relic of Saint Adrian enshrined at Geraardsbergen.
Tags
Date
1480 - 1500
Source
Walters Art Museum
Copyright info
http://purl.org/thewalters/rights/standard