Sculpture of Saint James – Burgundy 16th-Century

This is a representation of Saint James the Greater, who is said to have evangelized Spain and whose remains are venerated in Galicia, at Santiago de Compostela, the center of the famous pilgrimage since the 10th century.
The delicate gentleness of the facial features, which does not preclude a search for expression, offers us an illustration of the Saint in a dimension that is both realistic and mystical.
The Saint is depicted wearing a long garment that falls in broken folds. In his right hand, he holds the Gospels, attributes of the apostles of Jesus Christ, of whom he was one of the first four chosen disciples, along with John, Andrew, and Peter.
The gaunt face, with high cheekbones and pronounced brow ridges, is framed by a thick beard in flowing curls. The long, wavy hair falls over his shoulders beneath a hat adorned with the scallop shell, the emblem of pilgrims. Since antiquity, seashells have been worn for protection against witchcraft, bad luck, and illness. For these symbolic reasons, the scallop shell became an attribute of the Apostle Saint James, after whom it is named. Pilgrims attached it to their bags, hats, cloaks, or staffs. The scallop shell became the symbol of the pilgrims of Santiago de Compostela. It allowed them to distinguish themselves from other travelers, to drink from fountains, and to ask for alms from the locals.

Dimensions
H. 47 cm x W. 18 cm x D. 13 cm

France – Burgundy
Walnut
Traces of polychromy
16th century
Left hand missing