The Apostle Saint James the Greater Freeing the Magician Hermogenes

Saint James stands on the right in red and blue robes, reaching out toward Hermogenes, who wears a red gown and a tall, ornate hat. Between them, a figure in a blue cloak unties the cords binding the magician, while a cluster of dark, winged demons retreats into the shadows on the left. The scene is set against a backdrop of early Renaissance architecture and a sparsely wooded landscape.

This narrative from the 'Golden Legend' represents the triumph of apostolic authority over the 'forbidden' arts of goetic magic. Hermogenes serves as a foundational figure in the Western archetype of the 'converted magus,' a theme later explored by Renaissance thinkers seeking to reconcile ancient wisdom and magical traditions with religious orthodoxy.