A Treasure in the Museum

The cathedral has a fine museum, full of interesting things. I am going to focus on just one of them: this alabaster alarpiece showing the life and martyrdom of St James in five panels.
  The first panel shows the calling of James and John, sons of Zebedee, fishing on the Sea of Galilee. The second shows Christ instructing his apostles to spread the word: James is at the lower right of the group of apostles. The thurd panel shows James preaching: the fourth shows his martydom at the behest of Herod. The final panel shows the followers of James placing him in a boat, according to legend made of stone, for his journey to Spain.
 




So why this altarpiece? It has a curious origin. It is not Spanish, but was made in Nottinghamshire, and is one of the finest extant examples of Nottingham alabaster. Little remains in England: much was lost in the reformation, though the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has some fine examples. Now how did it get to Santiago? Is is suggested that it was taken there by a pilgrim as a donation, though that pilgrim would not have found it easy to carry it!

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