Saint James the Greater (with the Virgin of the Annunciation)
The Met
Artist: Martino di Bartolommeo di Biagio(Italian, Sienese, active by 1389–died 1434/35)
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Tempera on wood, gold ground
Dimensions: Overall, with shaped top and engaged (modern) frame, 59 3/8 x 15 3/8 in. (150.8 x 39.1 cm); Saint James 39 3/8 x 11 3/8 in. (100 x 28.9 cm); the Virgin 13 1/4 x 9 1/8 in. (33.7 x 23.2 cm)
Credit Line: Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Tall panel painting: standing male figure with book and staff, smaller female figure above
Detailed Description
This tall, narrow panel painting, rendered primarily in shades of gray, black, and white, features a full-length standing male figure within an architectural niche. Above this, a smaller, triangular section contains a bust-length female figure. The main figure, positioned centrally, faces forward with a direct gaze. He has short, dark hair and a beard, and a circular halo with radiating lines surrounds his head. He wears a long, flowing robe that drapes around his body, revealing his bare feet at the bottom. His left hand holds a dark, closed book against his chest, while his right hand grasps a tall, slender staff or rod that extends from the bottom to near his shoulder. The architectural niche around him is ornate, with a pointed arch at the top featuring decorative tracery and a scalloped border. Two slender columns flank the figure. Below the main figure, a horizontal band contains the faint, capitalized inscription "S. IACOBVS". Above the main section, a triangular pediment houses the smaller female figure. She is depicted from the chest up, with her head tilted downwards and her hands clasped at her chest. She wears a dark, hooded garment, and a halo encircles her head. The background behind both figures appears light, possibly gilded or painted with a subtle pattern.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
