Santiago Matamoros and ... Salvador Dali

[scruffy1]

I am re-reading "The Pilgrimage to Santiago" by Edwin Mullins, a personal favorite of mine. He mentions Santiago Matamoros and the different representations which have come down to us, everything from the Iglesia de Santiago el Real in Logroño to Green Shield trading stamps to Salvador Dali. Dali is not my favorite artist however many people do seem to enjoy his work so here I include not one but two Dali representations of St James:
http://www.royal-painting.com/htmllarge/large-4487.html and
http://www.aantv.com/images/cache/800x800_777062.top.jpg

PS I know some people have harbor a prejudice against books, people who read them, and the information and thoughts of others which might intefer with their own musings on the Camino. I have met far too many of these people who have arrived in Logroño late and left early without ever noticing the facade of the Eglisia de Santiago el Real even though the church is situated directly on the Camino to the right as you leave the albergue-just pick up your head!. True, one must walk up that side street some few meters to see it all but this is a fantastic sight which should not be missed!

 

[sillydoll]

I have got a postcard of "Santiago el Grande"

It is full of iconography and symbolism.

The vaulted ceiling cross pieces are secured with scallop shells. Behind the vaulted ceiling are hosts of angels.
The angels, flying upward on the left of the horse are duplicated on the horse's neck.
Instead of a sword, Santiago el Grande is holding up Christ on the cross.
Santiago is barefooted - symbol of pilgrimage.
The woman walking in the bottom right hand corner is said to be his wife, Gala Dalí, who was his muse.
The cliffs on the bottom left are the Costa del Morte.
There has been speculation that he originally painted the horse with full genitalia but this isn't confirmed.
The smoke and spray has a delicate Jasmin flower at its center (a flower Dali often placed behind his ear)

It really is a magnificent painting - the original is in the Beaverbrook art gallery in New Brunswick

 

[tyrrek]

PS I know some people have harbor a prejudice against books, people who read them, and the information and thoughts of others which might intefer with their own musings on the Camino.

Hi Scruffy! Just to ensure that prejudice is not confused with postjudice, i.e. opinion based on experience. I have been known to rant about a certain book, but took it on my first Camino with no prejudice whatsoever - after all, what did I know about the Camino? After walking it I did have some opinions though! I still use the book. Buen Camino!