The Digitalisation Project Castle Huis Bergh is the intellectual property of the Stichting Musick’s Monument. Ing Hans Meijer was responsible for the technical realisation; Dr Willem Kuiper for the scholarly input. Thanks are also due to the Anjer Cultuurfonds Gelderland; the Stichting de Verenigde Stichtingen “De Armenkorf” in Terborg and “Het Gasthuis te Silvolde”; Mrs P. Tijdink-Hermsen; Mrs L.J.C. Meijer-Kroonder; and the Giese family.
Panel
Segna, Niccolo di (2nd half 14th century)
Italy, Siena
Apostle James the Elder
1335-1340
Sienese painting
Provenance: Otto Lanz. previously Colonel Ettone Castelfranco,
Florence inv. no. 26 and 27 are two panels of a polyptich, of which the other parts are spread among various collections.
James the Elder was one of Jesus apostles, a fisherman, and the brother of Saint John the Evangelist, the writer of the fourth gospel. He carries a book, in art a common attribute of the apostles. Furthermore, he holds a pilgrims staff. The relation between James and pilgrimage is obvious: one of the worlds most famous places of pilgrimage is James’ supposed grave in the Spanish town of Santiago de Compostela, reputed to be this apostle’s final resting place. James is said to have undertaken a missionary journey to Spain. He returned to Jerusalem, where he was executed in 44 AD. His disciples took his body back to Spain and buried it. Eight centuries later, his grave was thought to be discovered, and the site was appropriately called Santiago (Saint James’) de Compostela. People from all over the world still travel to Santiago to revere the saint. This small panel must have originally been part of a large altarpiece or polyptich, together with another panel in the Castle Bergh collection, depicting Mary Magdalene.
