St. James Major leaning on a pole before a niche, his left leg crossed over his right, from "Christ and the Twelve Apostles"

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Lambert Suavius, created in 1545, captures St. James Major in a poised, contemplative stance—leaning on a staff before a simple niche, his legs crossed in quiet dignity. As of the series “Christ the Twelve Apostles,” print reflects the era’s deep interest in devotional imagery, offering viewers an intimate encounter with the saint often associated with pilgrimage and steadfast faith. Suavius, a Flemish artist working in the mid-sixteenth century, employed the engraving technique to translate sculptural forms into delicate lines and subtle shading. The medium’s precision allowed such images to circulate widely, bringing sacred figures into homes and churches across Northern Europe during a time of religious reflection and reform. Measuring just under eight inches tall, this intimate print rewards close looking, revealing Suavius’s skill in balancing architectural framing with the human figure. Today it resides in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection as a fine example of how Renaissance printmakers made the lives of the saints both accessible and enduringly moving.

About the Artist

Lambert Suavius · 1510–1576

Lambert Suavius (c.1510–c.1574/76), whose Flemish family name was Zutman, was born in Liège, in the southern Netherlands. He was the son of an episcopal goldsmith, Henri Zutman, and from his father's craft environment he inherited a training in the precise handling of metal and an appreciation for fine detail work. He became closely associated with his brother-in-law Lambert Lombard, the leading a...