Jar with a Man Leaning on a Crutch

Vividly painted in blue, yellow, green, and ocher on a white ground, this cylindrical jar features a bearded man leaning on a wooden crutch. He hobbles barefoot through a stark landscape, dressed in a simple tunic, torn pants, and a thick cloak. A leather bag and a bowl hang from his belt, and he holds a blue-and-white jug in one hand. Ocher rays emanate from the top right corner of the scene towards the man’s back.The man’s garb and accessories resemble those of beggars portrayed in sixteenth century engravings, especially from the Netherlands and Germany. However, the elegant blue-and-white jug is an unusual detail. A similar vessel is depicted in at least two paintings by artist Hans Memling (c. 1430/40 – 1494), and several exist in museum collections today. In both cases they bear the “sacred monogram,” (IHS, or Iesus Hominum Salvator) surrounded by rays of light. The presence of such a jug suggests that the subject has a moral or religious significance.On the back of the jar, the initial B topped by an O may refer to the jar's maker or to the pharmacy for which it was made. This piece belongs to a set of over twenty jars decorated with various subjects including biblical, genre, allegorical, and erotic images, all painted with a B or Bo. Another jar in the museum’s collection, depicting a woman with a flock of geese, also bears this monogram and must have come from the same set.