Description

This figure of Saint John the Evangelist, located in the right-hand niche of an altarpiece at the Royal Hospital building , is represented in iconographic terms as a writer, with the gospel held open in his left hand and a quill in his right hand. His oval-shaped face, reflecting a youthful appearance, is framed by abundant curls. He is wearing a tunic and a cape, both richly decorated in the estofado (polychrome) technique, with plant motifs and geometrical patterns. The artist endeavours to bring the piece to life by placing the figure’s left leg in a position of forward motion, so that all its weight appears to be borne by the right leg, contrapposto.

These characteristics are associated with the Granadan style of the 1500s, between the time of Diego de Siloé’s disciples and the early days of Pablo de Rojas.

Its location within the Royal Hospital building is attributed to the Catholic Monarchs’ devotion to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The sculptures of both are likely to have been part of the basic set of items used as altar images in the original Hospital, designed to be located on the main wall of the primitive chapel.

In 1624, Gaspar Guerrero was charged with creating an altarpiece, and it was then that the two sculptures were set into small niches in the side chapel. It would also be at this point that the works were polychromed by Pedro Villegas.