Altar frontal from Avià (Ad Magnificat)

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya | Frontal d'altar d'Avià
 

Altar frontal from Avià (Ad Magnificat)

 

Altar frontal from Avià (Ad Magnificat)

Situated in a visible way for the faithful, the altar frontals fulfil a notable pedagogical function throughout the history of liturgy and, in the way of a modern comic, they can reproduce different scenes that take place in different moments, showing the faithful a reality that different biblical episodes would also narrate.  

In the same way, the antiphons sung of the Divine Office function as short stories that, fragment by fragment, unravel an episode.  In this case the scene of the Magi stands out, guided by the star that leads them to the birthplace to offer their gifts.  In this antiphon, belonging to the eve of the Epiphany- first the scene is set and afterwards appears the dialogue of the characters who even describe the gifts, filled with the sound of the eight mode.

 

Listen to the Ad Magnificat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text: Juan Carlos Asensio

 

Artwork: Anonymous, Altar frontal from Avià. Circa 1200