Keywords: French - Saint Cosmas - Walters 27283.jpg Medieval medicine offered few cures Christians focused their hopes for recovery from illness or accident on their prayers to saints to intercede for them with God Saints Cosmas and Damian Protasius and Gervasius were two pairs of twin brothers who were invoked for their healing of the sick The statues are from the hospital complex at Abbeville built between 1484 and 1492 where they may have stood in niches at the entrance to the church The vigorous modeling and realistic details- as in the variety in their facial expressions- are made more vivid by the use of color and give credibility to the saints' humanity Their size relative to the sick at their feet conveys their superhuman powers while the clerical garments lend them authority The stocky proportions are typical of French sculpture of the late 15th century Saint Cosmas gloves in hand heals a man with a bloated stomach It is likely that he originally held a vessel in his left hand Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers who according to legend practiced as doctors in Cilicia in Asia Minor They are said to have refused all payment in order to convert their patients They were martyred in the 3rd century and are regarded as patrons of doctors and surgeons between 1484 1492 Late Medieval limestone paint gilding cm 70 29 22 3 accession number 27 283 10259 From the hospital Hôtel-Dieu Abbeville demolished by 1904 Dikran Kelekian Paris by purchase Henry Walters city Baltimore Walters Art Museum Henry Walters Acquired by Henry Walters 1912 Vive la France French Treasures from the Middle Ages to Monet The Walters Art Gallery Baltimore 1999-2000 place of origin Abbeville France Walters Art Museum license Renaissance sculpture in the Walters Art Museum Art of France in the Walters Art Museum Statues of Saints Cosmas and Damian Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Vive la France French Treasures from the Middle Ages to Monet |