The Twelve Apostles

Read an exchange of keys, compare two rosters and distinguish an evangelist from a disciple.

1. 01Reading an apostle in a painting5 min
2. 02Who are the Twelve?8 min
3. 03Object, action, inscription8 min
4. 04Disciple, apostle, evangelist8 min
5. 05Reading three kinds of image7 min

Compare the brothers in calling scenes, single portraits and Caravaggio’s telling of Peter’s denial.

1. 01Two fishermen from Galilee5 min
2. 02Peter and the teeth of a key8 min
3. 03Peter’s denial and return8 min
4. 04Andrew and the diagonal cross8 min
5. 05Andrew as an intermediary8 min
6. 06Keys, saltire or fishing gear?8 min
7. 07A fresco and a night scene8 min
8. 08Reading the two brothers7 min

Follow James from the account in Acts to the pilgrim and horseman in later Iberian art.

1. 01James of the pilgrimage routes5 min
2. 02How to read a pilgrim’s equipment8 min
3. 03Zebedee’s son and Compostela8 min
4. 04A pilgrim and a mounted saint8 min
5. 05A label for James7 min

Study John’s eagle and chalice and the works in which a gesture takes their place.

1. 01The beloved disciple and the name John5 min
2. 02The eagle and the chalice8 min
3. 03John at the Cross and on Patmos8 min
4. 04The two Johns8 min
5. 05Three portraits of John8 min
6. 06Which John is represented?7 min

Compare Bernini’s double portrait with scenes of Thomas before the risen Christ and the feeding of the crowd.

1. 01Three apostles and a question of shape5 min
2. 02When Andrew carries a fish8 min
3. 03Thomas and the wound8 min
4. 04Philip’s cross and the boy’s bread8 min
5. 05Compare three moments of recognition8 min
6. 06Cross, square and wound7 min

Study two uses of the book and the different names attached to James in biblical and artistic sources.

1. 01A writer and a reader5 min
2. 02Matthew at the tax table and at his desk8 min
3. 03Which James is called “the Less”?8 min
4. 04Comparing the two Jameses8 min
5. 05Placing the correct label7 min

Compare a martyr’s knife with the evidence of enamel, gold-ground panels and their inscriptions.

1. 01Four apostles in a collection5 min
2. 02Bartholomew and his knife8 min
3. 03Simon and Jude in separate portraits8 min
4. 04Matthias after the Ascension8 min
5. 05Knife, inscription and book7 min

Read neighbouring panels, separate the two Johns and consider two names for Ribera’s spear-bearing apostle.

1. 01What makes an identification secure?5 min
2. 02Peter and John in the same scene8 min
3. 03A lamb, an eagle, a chalice8 min
4. 04When everyone carries a book8 min
5. 05A second opinion on a label7 min

Build a caption from details visible in the image and check its claims against a collection record.

1. 01An inventory of visible objects8 min
2. 02The direction of a gesture8 min
3. 03Recognising an event before its cast8 min
4. 04Write a label from evidence7 min

Explain your choices using the painting, its collection record and the relevant primary text.

1. 01Preparing a catalogue entry5 min
2. 02Final study of three portraits7 min
3. 03What is the source of the claim?7 min
4. 04Choosing between two candidates8 min
5. 05A final label of your own5 min