Artwork
The Embarkation of James the Greater’s Body at Jaffa
The Embarkation of James the Greater’s Body at Jaffa is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Martín Bernat. It dates from 1490 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1490, the painting titled *The Embarkation of James the Greater’s Body at Jaffa* is attributed to the Spanish Gothic artist Martín Bernat, who was active in Zaragoza from the mid‑15th to the early 16th century. The work is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado and illustrates the transport of the saint’s corpse by sea, a subject drawn from hagiographic tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a group of figures surrounding a boat on which lies a lifeless man clothed in a blue robe trimmed with gold and a yellow cap. The saint’s body is being carefully placed aboard, while attendants in vivid garments hold swords and hats, suggesting a ceremonial escort. The scene conveys reverence for the apostle and the ritual of moving his relics to a sacred destination.
Technique & Style
Executed in the late Gothic idiom, the painting incorporates early Renaissance influences that were emerging in Spain at the time. Bernat’s handling of colour—bright blues, gold accents, and varied hues for the surrounding figures—creates a vivid tableau, while the detailed rendering of textiles and weaponry reflects a growing interest in naturalistic observation.
History & Provenance
Martín Bernat, a contemporary of Bartolomé Bermejo, worked in Zaragoza between roughly 1450 and 1505, though precise birth and death dates are unknown. The canvas entered the Prado’s holdings in the 20th century, where it remains on display as an example of transitional Spanish art bridging Gothic conventions and nascent Renaissance tendencies.
Context
The subject derives from the legend of Saint James the Greater, whose relics were said to have been transported from the Holy Land to Spain. Depicting the moment of embarkation at Jaffa aligns the work with the broader medieval fascination with saints’ journeys and the political significance of James as patron of the Spanish Reconquista.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martín Bernat (fl. 1450 -1505) was a Spanish Gothic style painter, active in Zaragoza, where he had a long collaboration with Bartolomé Bermejo. His dates of birth and death are not known.
The Lamentation
The Burial of Saint Wenceslas
The Lamentation
Group of Soldiers and Men in Oriental Costume
Lamentation of Christ
Posthumous Miracles by Saint Vincent
The Raising of Lazarus
The Raising of Lazarus
The Descent From the Cross
Jakobus-Stephanus-Altar: Der hl. Jakobus tauft Josias und Hinrichtung des Jakobus
Flagellation of Christ