Santiago

Copied Master of "La Merced", Santiago, early 18th century, carved and painted wood, 14 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄4 x 3 in. (36.8 x 14.6 x 7.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Teodoro Vidal Collection, 1996.91.48
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Santiago
Artist
Date
early 18th century
Location
Dimensions
14 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄4 x 3 in. (36.8 x 14.6 x 7.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Teodoro Vidal Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Religion — saint — St. James
Object Number
1996.91.48
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.91.48

Artwork Description

Saint James the Great, commonly known as Santiago, is the patron saint of Spain. According to legend, he appeared miraculously to liberate Spain from the Moors and is often represented on horseback carrying a banner. He is closely identified with his shrine at Spain’s Santiago de Compostela, the destination of medieval pilgrims from across Europe. Christians wore the cockleshell, seen on the shoulder of this santo, to identify themselves as pilgrims on the dangerous journey to James’s shrine. The saint welcomes his devotees with one arm clasped to his chest and the other extended to embrace a weary traveler.