Romanesque

Discover one of the world's best collections of Catalan Romanesque art (12th and 13th centuries)

The Descent from the Cross from Erill la Vall (1100/1150) by Master of ErillMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Romanesque

The MEV’s collection of Romanesque Art is among the most important ones in the world. There are a dozen painted panels, which include the exceptional Ribes Baldachin, the front of the altar from Espinelves and the altar set from Santa Maria de Lluçà. The Osormort, El Brull and La Seu d’Urgell mural paintings are presented in areas that reproduce the architecture of the original apses. The sculpture includes a large series of carvings of the Virgin with her Son, as well as some of the most outstanding examples of Christ in Majesty from the 12th century. Particularly worthy of a mention are the set of five figures of the Descent from the Cross from Erill la Vall, which are unique in Europe.

Doorway of the church of Sant Vicenç in Malla (1150/1200) by Vic-Ripoll workshopMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Doorways

The Romanesque portals were the entrance door to enter the churches and were usually decorated with biblical themes. The capitals are the upper part of the columns or pilasters, often decorated with sculptures.

Capital with winged animals facing each other, Vic-Ripoll workshop, 1150/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Reliefs from the Cathedral of Vic, Vic-Ripoll workshop, 1150/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Mural paintings from the apse of Sant Martí in El Brull (1125/1150) by Vic workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Inside the church

Altars were the most important places in Christian churches, and were therefore entirely decorated with mural paintings, fabrics, altar frontals, baldachins....

Romanesque room

Mural paintings from the apse of Sant Sadurní in Osormort, Vic workshops, Mestre d'Osormort, 1125/1150, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Mural paintings from the apse of Sant Martí in El Brull, Vic workshops, 1125/1150, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar frontal from La Mare de Déu in El Coll (1175/1200) by Vic workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Altar frontals

Altar frontals painted in tempera are rectangular panels covering the front part of the altar, sometimes they also had side pieces that covered the lateral parts of the altar.

Altar frontal from Sant Martí in Puigbò, Vic workshops, 1100/1125, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar frontal from Sant Andreu in Sagàs, La Seu d'Urgell workshops, Second quarter of the 12th century, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar frontal from La Mare de Déu in El Coll, Vic workshops, 1175/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar frontal from Santa Margarida in Vilaseca, Vic workshops, 1175/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar from Santa Maria in Lluçà, Master of Lluçà; Vic workshops, 1225/1250, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar frontal called the “Witches' Cloth”, Unknown, 1100/1150, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Baldachin from Ribes (1125/1150) by La Seu d'Urgell workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Baldachins

Baldachins were originally placed in the church apse. They could be with columns or a canopy-panel, this one was like a ceiling hanging over the altar and supported by beams. Their liturgical function was that of protecting and highlighting the altar.

The Descent from the Cross from Erill la Vall (1100/1150) by Master of ErillMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

The descent

It seems that the descents were located in a beam over the altar.

Virgin from Santa Maria in Matamala (1175/1200) by Vic workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Virgins

The oldest Romanesque virgins are represented following the bizenthine tradition and were known as Maiestas Mariae or Sedes Sapientiae. Following this iconographic model, the figure of the Virgin is portrayed as the throne of the Child Jesus.

Virgin from La Rodona in Vic, Vic workshops, 1175/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Virgin from Santa Maria in Matamala, Vic workshops, 1175/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Virgin from Santa Maria in Veciana, Unknown, 1225/1275, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Christ in Majesty from Santa Maria in Lluçà (1150/1200) by Vic workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Christ in Majesty

Christ in Majesty became popular in Catalonia in the second half of the 12th century, representing the symbol of Jesus Christ triumphant over death.

Christ in Majesty from Sant Boi in Lluçanès, Vic workshops, 1150/1200, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Censer (1200/1300) by Limoges workshopsMev, Museu d'Art Medieval

Liturgical objects

The museum preserves many liturgical objects from Romanesque churches, such as censers for burning the incense in certain religious celebrations, candlesticks to illuminate the altar, crosses or decorative appliques.

Plate from an evangeliaria cover with a crucifix, Limoges workshops, 1200/1300, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Censer, Unknown, 1200/1300, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Altar candlestick, Unknown, 1375/1425, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Brazier, Unknown, 1300/1400, From the collection of: Mev, Museu d'Art Medieval
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Museu Episcopal de Vic

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