Artwork
Saint James the Apostle
Saint James the Apostle is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of Miraflores. It dates from 1495 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Created in 1495, this oil on panel portrays Saint James the Elder, a figure venerated in Christian tradition.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This religious panel painting depicts Saint James the Elder, also known as Saint James the Apostle.
This religious panel painting depicts Saint James the Elder, also known as Saint James the Apostle. The iconography identifies the figure through specific attributes: he is shown holding a book and a crosier, traditional symbols of his status as an apostle and bishop.
Created in 1489 by the Master of Miraflores, the work functions as a devotional image representing the saint's authority and spiritual role within the Christian faith. The combination of the textual symbol (the book) and the staff of office (the crosier) visually communicates his dual identity as a writer of scripture and a leader of the early Church.
Technique & Style
Saint James the Apostle is executed in oil paint oil paint on a wooden panel, measuring 146 by 81 cm. The work belongs to the religious genre and depicts Saint James the Elder with his traditional attributes of a book and crosier. The Master of Miraflores employed oil paint to achieve the detailed figural rendering characteristic of late 15th-century Spanish panel painting. The relatively large scale of the support suggests it was designed for devotional or altarpiece use, appropriate to its sacred subject.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint James the Apostle was created in 1489 by the Master of Miraflores. Executed in oil paint on panel, the work depicts St. James the Elder holding a book and crosier. While the artwork is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, records also associate it with the Pontevedra Museum.
A secondary historical date of 1769 is noted in the provenance chain, though the primary creation date remains 1489.
Overview
Created in 1495, this oil on panel portrays Saint James the Elder, a figure venerated in Christian tradition. The work is attributed to the anonymous Master of Miraflores and is part of the collection at Madrid’s Museo del Prado. The composition centers the saint against a decorative, dark background that includes gilded motifs and a recessed, window‑like opening.
Context
The depiction aligns with late Gothic and early Renaissance trends in Iberia, where saints were rendered with heightened realism yet retained ornamental backgrounds. Saint James, patron of pilgrims, was a popular subject in Spanish devotional imagery, reflecting the era’s emphasis on personal piety and the cult of the apostle.
Artist & collection
Artist
This anonymous painter from the late 1400s made dramatic religious scenes full of rich colors and fine details.
