Saint James c. 1385

Saint James was made by Matteo di ser Cambio di Bettolo with tempera and gold leaf on parchment. The painting's luminous quality is due to the artist's skilled application of tempera, a process that involves mixing pigments with egg yolk. Tempera dries quickly, allowing for precise detail, which you can observe here in the intricate rendering of St. James's face, robes, and the patterning of the background. The use of gold leaf to create the halo and embellishments reflects the cultural significance and value placed on the artwork, with the gilding process demonstrating the artist's mastery of delicate techniques. The artist has used ultramarine, derived from the precious stone lapis lazuli. This emphasized the painting's status as a luxury object, made by a highly skilled workshop. Through material choices and careful labor, the image invites us to consider the convergence of artistry, faith, and cultural context in the late medieval period, when the line between fine art and craft was not yet clearly drawn.