DÜRER, Albrecht
(b. 1471, Nürnberg, d. 1528, Nürnberg)

The Apostle Philip

1516
Tempera on canvas, 46 x 37 cm
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Two idealized portraits by Dürer depict the two apostles, Philip and James the Elder. The compositions are very simple, with Dürer showing just the head and shoulders. Only the inscriptions, and the scallop shell symbol on the red gown of James, identify them as apostles. Dürer has portrayed them in an anguished state, with heads slightly bent, furrowed brows, piercing eyes and dropped lower lips. Grief has aged them and their intricately painted beards give them the appearance of wise old men. Dürer probably intended the two portraits to be part of a set of paintings of the 12 apostles.