Saint John the Evangelist

This panel, painted by Juan de la Abadía in 1490, formed part of the Saint Catherine altarpiece in the La Malena church (Iglesia de La Malena) in Huesca. It depicts a young, redheaded Saint John the Evangelist with a halo. He is kneeling with his hands crossed over his chest, covered by a large, reddish cloak with a golden lining. The high degree of realism and detail in the skintone and hair, the bright color palette, the folds of the cloth, and the golden stucco are all characteristic of the Hispano-Flemish Gothic style. De la Abadía, known as el Viejo (old man), was one of the main proponents of this style in Aragon. Records show his workshop in the city of Huesca was active between 1469 and 1498, the year of his death.