Saint Martin and Beggar (c1598). Oil on canvas. 194 x 103. Saint Martin and the Beggar is a painting by the Greek mannerist painter El Greco, painted c. 1597-1599, that currently is in the collection of The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. It depicts a legend in the life of Christian saint Martin of Tours: the saint cut off half his cloak and gave it to a beggar. El Greco made a smaller version of the painting that is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.