Artwork
Saint James the Greater
Saint James the Greater is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Parmigianino. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1522, this etching depicts Saint James the Greater and exemplifies the early Italian Mannerist aesthetic. Executed by the young Parmigianino, the work shows a solitary figure seen from behind, staff in hand, moving across a rocky terrain. The monochrome composition relies on precise line work to convey the pilgrim’s movement and the surrounding landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents the apostle James as a pilgrim, a common devotional motif in the early sixteenth century. By portraying him from the rear, the artist emphasizes the journey itself rather than a narrative episode, inviting contemplation of spiritual pilgrimage and the saint’s role as a guide for the faithful.
Technique & Style
Executed with etching, the print employs fine incised lines to render the texture of hair, the drapery’s folds, and the rugged ground. The elongated proportions and graceful contouring reflect Parmigianino’s emerging Mannerist sensibility, while the careful modulation of line density creates a sense of depth without tonal shading.
History & Provenance
Parmigianino produced this work while still in his late teens, during a period of itinerant activity in Florence, Rome and Parma. The print circulated among collectors of religious imagery and contributed to the artist’s reputation as a versatile draftsman capable of translating his painterly style into the medium of print.
Artist & collection
Artist
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 1503 – 24 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (UK: , US: , Italian: ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist…
