St Olaf, the Patron Saint of Norway

3D Model

The sculpture depicts St Olaf, the patron saint of Norway. It originally stood in Bunge church on the Swedish island of Gotland. It is dated to the early 14th century. A number of sculptures from the same period are assumed to be from the same artisan, called the Bunge Master.

The sculpture is carved in oak. Religious sculptures in Gothic style have extravagant dresses with many folds. In the deep folds of the St Olaf sculpture traces of red, green and blue paint as well as gilding are visible. St Olaf (Olaf Haraldsson) was a Norwegian King living between 995 and 1030. He introduced Christianity in Norway, in the same way his father-in-law Olof Skötkonung did in Sweden.

Online Collections: 93962_HST