Saint Jacques le Majeur
c. 1578
Hendrick Goltzius captures the chaotic martyrdom of St. James the Great in this intense engraving, looking more like a biblical action scene than a quiet religious moment. In the foreground, the saint stands surprisingly calm, clutching his pilgrim's staff topped with a gourd—a classic symbol for travelers—while behind him, soldiers on horseback and an executioner with a raised sword create a frenzy of violence. As a master of the Mannerist style, Goltzius uses incredibly detailed, swirling lines to show off the muscular tension of the soldiers and the flowing robes of the saint. The Latin text at the bottom confirms the grim fate: James offering his neck to the sword, a story that led to his shrine in Santiago de Compostela becoming a major pilgrimage site.
- Technique
- Engraving