St James the Great
Panel
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
St James the Great, bearded and wearing a hat turned up at the sides and ornamented with a scallop shell, stands with a closed book in his left hand. A satchel hangs at his left side from a strap over his right shoulder and he wears a robe ornamented with a vertical line of five whelk shells around his shoulder.
Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.
Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St James the Great (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted alabaster |
| Brief description | Alabaster panel depicting St James the Great. English, 15th century. |
| Physical description | The bearded saint, wearing a hat turned up at the sides and ornamented with a scallop shell, stands with a closed book in his left hand. A satchel hangs at his left side from a strap over his right shoulder. He wears a robe ornamented with a vertical line of five whelk shells; round his shoulders and draped over his arms he wears a cloak. He is barefooted. His eyelids are carved. The saint's head has been broken off and repaired. His nose has been damaged and part of his beard chipped. His right hand is missing. The panel is roughly cut away at the top. Green paint and the usual daisy pattern remain on the ground. Traces of red remain on the folds of the cloak. The satchel is black with a green strap. The hat is black. The back of the panel bears two lead-plugged holes. The bottom has been cut away. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris. On loan since 1928. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | St James the Great, bearded and wearing a hat turned up at the sides and ornamented with a scallop shell, stands with a closed book in his left hand. A satchel hangs at his left side from a strap over his right shoulder and he wears a robe ornamented with a vertical line of five whelk shells around his shoulder. Saints are the heroes and heroines of Christian faith. In the 14th and 15th centuries, they were a popular subject for alabaster carvings. Religious themes penetrated private life, so devotional images of saints were sculpted not only for church interiors, but also for individuals to contemplate within the privacy of their homes. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 105 (cat. 34), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.156-1946 |
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| Record created | November 22, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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