Altar frontal from Esterri de Cardós

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Location: 
Room 05
Artists / Makers / Authorities: 
Anonymous. Catalonia. La Seu d'Urgell 1200 workshop
Social tags: 
Description:

Of the church of Sant Pau de Esterri de Cardós, there remains both the decoration of the apse and the frontal altar that was presiding the major altar, dated in 1225 by an inscription. All the figures and the decorative elements of the frontal altar  are done by reliefs of gypsum, which were covered originally with a cap of tin and a golden glaze called colradura. This technique, habitual in the frontals of Catalan altar, was seeking to reproduce with slightly costly materials the effects of relief and brilliancy of the frontal altar of goldsmithing. The loss of the gilding does not allow to understand, today, the vigorous aesthetic original effect.

Painting

1225

108 x 161 x 20 cm

Purchased 1911

Inventory number: 

015889-000

From the church of Sant Pau i Sant Pere in Esterri de Cardós (Pallars Sobirà).
Tempera, stucco reliefs and remains of metal plate on cloth-mounted pine wood
Century: 13th
Subject: Religion
Anònim. Catalunya. Taller de la Seu d'Urgell del 1200 - Frontal d'altar d'Esterri de Cardós - 1225
Frontal d'altar d'Esterri de Cardós