Saint James the Greater with an Augustinian nun
Master of Lourinhã·1500
Historical Context
The Master of Lourinha painted this Saint James the Greater with an Augustinian Nun around 1500. This anonymous Portuguese painter served the churches and monasteries of the Lourinha region, reflecting the distinctive artistic culture of early-sixteenth-century Portugal. 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 combines the devotional saint figure with a kneeling nun donor in the standard format for Portuguese altarpiece panels, reflecting Hispano-Flemish influences.
