Apostle St James the Less
El Greco·1609
Historical Context
Apostle Saint James the Less (c. 1609-14), in Toledo Cathedral, is part of El Greco's late apostolate series depicting each of the twelve apostles as distinct spiritual presences rendered with increasingly expressive distortion. James the Less, traditionally identified as the first Bishop of Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of James, is presented with the intense devotional fervor that characterizes all of El Greco's final religious works. Toledo Cathedral's possession of these paintings reflects El Greco's deep integration into the city's religious culture over his four decades of residence.
Technical Analysis
The figure exemplifies El Greco's extreme late manner with radically elongated proportions and agitated drapery that seems to move with spiritual energy. The palette of green, blue, and yellow creates an otherworldly chromatic effect.
