Altar frontal from Santa Maria in Taüll

Altar frontal from Santa Maria in Taüll

Artist	Anonymous
Year	c.1200
Type	Tempera on wood and applied carvings
Dimensions	97 cm × 1035.5 cm (38 in × 407.7 in)
Location	Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona

The Altar frontal from Santa Maria in Taüll is an altar frontal exhibited at the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona.^[1][2]

Description

Most of the altar frontals known to us from the Romanesque period in Catalonia consist of a panel, painted in tempera, which in some cases is complemented with stucco relief elements. But alongside this more widespread form there were other technical possibilities, such as fresco painting or carved stone or marble or, as in this case, carved polychrome wood. Remember that some decoration and details, using gilded effects, resembled or imitated more luxurious items covered with precious metals.

The Altar frontal from Santa Maria in Taüll is part of a series of works discovered at the beginning of the twentieth century in the churches of the valley of Boí and is one of the items of highest quality from the Ribagorza workshops. These works are characterised by the cleanness of their forms, a certain vigour and a schematism that has led them to be compared to monumental sculptural groups of the second half of the twelfth century.

The composition and iconography are very common in this sort of item. In the central register is Christ in Majesty, inscribed in the mandorla, surrounded by the symbols of the Evangelists, whose marks remain. On either side are arranged the figures of the Apostles on two levels under the arches. The figures are carved in pine wood and preserve important traces of polychromy.

Notes

1. ↑ Guia del Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.p. 25. MNAC, 2004. ISBN 84-8043-136-9
2. ↑ The artwork at MNAC's Website

See also

• Paintings from Santa Maria in Taüll

References

• Castiñeiras, Manuel; Camps, Jordi (2008). Romanesque art in the MNAC collections. MNAC. ISBN 978-84-8043-196-5. Retrieved 3 September 2012. 
• Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya. MNAC. 1 March 2009. ISBN 978-84-8043-200-9. Retrieved 3 September 2012. 
• Carbonell, Eduard; Pagès, Montserrat; Camps, Jordi; Marot, Teresa (1998). Romanesque Art Guide: Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Retrieved 3 September 2012. 
• Carbonell, Eduard; Sureda i Pons, Joan (1997). The Medieval Treasures of the Museu Nacional D'Art de Catalunya. Lunwerg. Retrieved 3 September 2012. 

External links

• The artwork at Museum's website

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
Romanesque works	Altar frontal from La Seu d'Urgell or of The Apostles Southern apse from Pedret Apse of Santa Maria d'Àneu Apse of Sant Climent de Taüll Erill la Vall Descent from the Cross Batlló Majesty Altar frontal from Avià Paintings from Arlanza
Gothic Art works	Mural paintings of the Conquest of Majorca Head of Christ Virgin of the Angels Altarpiece of Saint Barbara Nativity and Saint John the Evangelist Altarpiece of the Saints John Virgin of the Consellers Saint Augustine Altarpiece Resurrection of Christ
Renaissance and Baroque works	Saint Candidus Jean-Claude Richard, abbé of Saint-Non Mural Paintings from the Herrera Chapel Saint Peter and Saint Paul Madonna of Humility Immaculate Conception Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew St Paul
Modern Art works	The Spanish Wedding Desolation Ramon Casas and Pere Romeu on a Tandem Confidant from the Batlló House Terraced Village Paloma Cala Forn Portrait of my father Woman in Hat and Fur Collar Still life II The Corpus Christi Procession Leaving the Church of Santa Maria del Mar
See also	List of artists from the MNAC collection Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya Saint Agnes