Santiago and Hermógenes
Master of Lourinhã·1520
Historical Context
The Master of Lourinhã painted this Santiago and Hermógenes around 1520, depicting an episode from the life of Saint James involving the magician Hermogenes. This anonymous Portuguese painter exemplifies the Luso-Flemish style that dominated Portuguese painting. The tempera-on-panel medium required a carefully gessoed surface and was painted in fine, precise layers, yielding a luminous, jewel-like surface of great durability.
Technical Analysis
The panel shows the characteristic Portuguese blend of Flemish technique with Iberian devotional intensity, featuring detailed narrative composition in the Luso-Flemish tradition.
