Saint James the Greater c. 17th century

Jusepe de Ribera created this painting of Saint James the Greater in the seventeenth century. As we consider this image, we must remember that art in seventeenth-century Spain played a crucial role in propagating the Catholic faith and upholding the power of the Church. This image creates meaning through its use of visual codes, such as Saint James’s pilgrim's staff and the document in his hand. It invites the viewer to contemplate the Apostle's teachings and the role of pilgrimage in religious devotion. Ribera was working at a time when the Catholic Church was trying to reform its institutions and practices in response to the rise of Protestantism. Paintings like this were part of that movement. As art historians, we can use resources, such as theological treatises and records of artistic patronage to understand the context in which art like this was created. Looking at art through this historical lens, we recognize it as a reflection of the complex social and religious forces at play in seventeenth-century Spain.