Finding Different Perspectives of the Apostles in Madrid and Toledo

The story of the original twelve Apostles of Christ is an incredible tale. We can think of these twelve initial followers of Jesus as the world’s first sales force. Inspired by His life, and death, and lifted by the Holy Spirit after Our Lord’s resurrection, they travelled far and wide to spread Christianity.

What happened to these remarkable men? And how were they rewarded for their ferocious faith?

• Peter, went to Rome, and was crucified upside-down

• Andrew travelled to Greece, Asia Minor, and Iran, and was crucified on an X cross (he is the patron saint of Scotland, and hence the design of their flag…)

  

• James ventured forth to Jerusalem and Spain, and was beheaded

• John went to Turkey, and died of natural causes

• Bartholomew made it to Armenia and Turkey, and was skinned alive

• Matthew travelled to Ethiopia, and was killed with an ax

• Thomas made it to India, and died by means of a spear

• James the Lesser went to Egypt, and was beaten to death

• Thaddeus (Jude) travelled to Armenia, and was crucified

• Simon made it to Armenia, and was crucified

• Phillip went to Greece, Syria, and Turkey, and was crucified

• Matthias travelled to Syria and Turkey, and was stoned and beheaded

Obviously, it was no bargain to have been one of the original followers of Christ, and perhaps, their faith, courage, and willingness to be martyred (the origin of the word means to witness) is one of the greatest testaments to existence of the Resurrection. What they experienced with Jesus was truly life changing.

How should we envision these early Christians? Well, on the walls of the Prado, and in the Sacristy of the Cathedral of Toledo are three different series of portraits that tackles that question. These giants come alive for us in Madrid and Toledo.

Inside the Prado, placed in a long gallery, you will find how Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish artist, imagined them around the year 1610. And then, forty-five minutes away, in the Sacristy of Toledo, where the main attraction is El Greco’s utterly astonishing painting of the disrobing of Christ,

one can find in this great painting’s artistic shadow, how El Greco saw the Apostles… interestingly, these portraits were done at almost the same time as Rubens did his series. And finally, even further recessed away in the same gallery in Toledo, are modern renderings of the twelve done by Spanish artist, José María Cano.

Looking at few of them side by side, the differences in human perception, as well as artistic technique and expression, are obvious.

Saint Peter

Saint Andrew

Saint John

Saint James

I like to stand in front of these portraits and imagine the men two ways. First, as to the character of the Apostles themselves, and next as a reflection of the nature of the souls of the artists who rendered them so differently.

The more one looks at the world, the more one realizes there is no such thing as one fixed perception.

To see all of Rubens’ apostles, click this link: https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-works?searchObras=apostolado%20rubens

Below are all of El Greco’s apostles, with a portrait of Jesus.