St. John and St. James the Greater c. 16th century

This anonymous 16th-century icon, "St. John and St. James the Greater," is a small-scale painting from the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The icon depicts the two apostles St. John and St. James the Greater, each in their iconic poses. The artist utilizes a Byzantine style, capturing the essence of traditional iconography through simplified forms, flat patterns, and a focus on the spiritual rather than the realistic. St. John, the apostle, is shown gesturing, while St. James the Greater is seated and writing, highlighting the symbolism of spiritual knowledge and the transmission of faith.