Who painted Saint James Major?

Saint James Major was painted by Simone Martini in c. 1315/1320.

Where can I see Saint James Major?

Saint James Major is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint James Major?

Saint James Major is associated with Sienese School.

Can I buy a print of Saint James Major?

Museum-quality prints of Saint James Major are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Saint James Major

Simone Martini , 1318

Saint James Major is a tempera painting by the Sienese School artist Simone Martini. It dates from 1318 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:on the left side of the Saint: .SA[NC]TVS.; on the right side of the Saint: YACOBVS.

About this work

History & Provenance

Four panels entered the collection of Philip Lehman by 1928, were sold to the Kress Foundation in 1943, and were gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1952.

The altarpiece of Saint James Major was painted by Simone Martini in 1315 as part of a series of ten panels commissioned for a Sienese church, likely for the chapel of St. James in the Dominican convent of San Domenico. After being owned by collector Johann Anton Ramboux, who acquired it between 1832 and 1842, the work passed through his estate sale in 1867 and was bought by the Wallraf‑Richartz‑Museum in Cologne, which later deaccessioned it. Four panels entered the collection of Philip Lehman by 1928, were sold to the Kress Foundation in 1943, and were gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1952.

Saint James Major, a tempera on panel painting attributed to Simone Martini and dated to 1315, belongs to a ten‑panel series of the Life of Saint James. The work entered the collection of Johann Anton Ramboux in Cologne between 1832 and 1842 and remained in his estate until the 1867 sale after his death; the series was subsequently acquired by the Wallraf‑Richartz‑Museum, which deaccessioned the panels in 1922–23. Philip Lehman bought the four panels that include Saint James Major by 1928, and they were sold in June 1943 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, which gifted them to the National Gallery of Art in 1952 (accession 1952.5.23‑.26).

Overview

Simone Martini's Saint James Major, painted around 1318, is a devotional work executed in tempera on panel. This painting presents a solitary figure, likely intended for a larger altarpiece or a private devotional setting. The artist's characteristic attention to detail and spiritual intensity is evident in the portrayal of the saint, making it a representative example of Sienese Gothic painting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Saint James Major, identified by his pilgrim's staff and a book, symbolizing his evangelistic mission. He wears a vibrant yellow robe over a dark, patterned garment, with a halo encircling his head. His serious expression and direct gaze convey a sense of profound contemplation and spiritual authority. The warm yellow background further emphasizes the saint's presence, contributing to an atmosphere of serene devotion.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel, the painting showcases the precise and luminous qualities inherent to this medium. Martini's application of tempera allows for a rich textural quality, particularly visible in the folds of the saint's drapery and the subtle patterns of his undergarment. This technique facilitates a meticulous rendering of details and contributes to the overall sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the contemplative space of the artwork.