This piece is an excellent example of the Catalonian style at the end of the 15th century, in the tradition of Jaume Huguet (1412-1492), whose influence can be seen in the methodical representation of the saint and the halo consisting of multiple golden concentric circles. The exquisite ornamentation of the plant stems in the gilded background is, however, much more detailed and refined than that of the great Catalonian master, and seems to have been more influenced by the motifs characteristic of the Valencian painting of this period.

While the treatment of the horse’s harness and the trim of the cloak—in delicate gold relief—and the traces of architecture in the landscape point to the Lérida School, the painting is yet to be attributed to one particular master. As such, it should be considered as an anonymous work from the Catalonia region circa 1480-1490.

There is a painting of St. Martin and the Beggar that used to be part of the Kleinberger Galleries in Paris—which Chandler R. Post attributes to Master Girard (Pedro Girard, from Valencia, whose presence has been documented in Vic in 1494), and Josep Gudiol i Ricart attributes to Master of Cervera (at the of the Lérida, Barcelona, and Tarragona provinces)—which is basically a repetition of this panel although with slight variations and poorer quality. This fact seems to support that this picture of San Martin was produced within the same context, even if its quality suggests the authorship of a more tasteful and refined artist.

St. Martin of Tours (316-397) was born in Hungary and educated in Pavia. He enlisted in the Roman Imperial Guard at age fifteen, and served until year 356 in France. After leaving military life and being baptised, he joined the disciples of St. Hilary in Poitiers. He was appointed Bishop of Tours in 370.

The scene depicts an event that, according to tradition, took place in Amiens in the winter of 337. At the gates of the city, Martin met a beggar shivering from the cold, and he gave half him of his cloak, for the other half belonged to the Roman army that he served. The following night, he had a vision in which Christ appeared to him dressed wearing the half cloak he had given away as a sign of appreciation for his gesture.