The traditions of the apostle st. James in Galicia

Modesto Brocos, who had settled in Brazil, returned to Europe in 1897 to paint this work which he ‘dreamt of before becoming a painter’. As the signature shows, it was executed in Rome in 1899 and the following year was presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, but was not as successful as desired. It is not known whether it arrived at the cathedral as a gift to the cathedral chapter or as a temporary deposit by the artist while waiting a buyer.

The work is structured in the form of a triptych, with the scenes separated by architectural frames: on each side a pointed arch and in the centre a semicircular arch, separated by helicoidal columns with historiated capitals, on each of which is an angel holding a cartouche above the central image.

The image on the right represents The Preaching of the Apostle, while the left-hand side depicts The Translation of his remains. In the foreground is the boat in which he arrives from Jaffa. In the background is the arrival at Padrón, where two older men and two young men carry him on a stone, the latter two being the disciples Theodore and Athanasius. Behind, it is possible to see a cart with oxen. The sky shows the artist's intention to use the Impressionist technique.

The central scene presents the moment before the Inventio, the unveiling of the mortal remains of Saint James. A marble tomb bathed in starlight can be seen in the middle of the forest, guarded by two angels. The cartouche above this image contains an inscription in Latin identifying the body of St James the Greater.