Description
International Colloquium on Corinthian, Pre-Romanesque, and Islamic Capitals (6th–12th centuries AD)
Book Summary
This work gathers the proceedings of the international colloquium that brought together prominent German, French, and Spanish specialists to address one of the most unique artistic manifestations of the Early Middle Ages: the Corinthian, Pre-Romanesque, and Islamic capital. Through the papers and debates compiled here, the reader gains access to an in-depth, multidisciplinary analysis of the evolution, carving techniques, decorative models, and cultural influences that defined these architectural elements between the 6th and 12th centuries. A reference volume for understanding the confluence of classical, Christian, and Islamic traditions in the Iberian Peninsula and Southern Europe.
What is it about?
The book presents the contributions of an academic meeting focused on the study of Corinthian, Pre-Romanesque, and Islamic capitals, covering a broad chronological framework spanning from the 6th to the 12th century AD. Participating specialists analyze everything from the survival of classical models in Visigothic and Mozarabic architecture to the formal innovations introduced by Islamic art in al-Andalus. Issues such as the identification of workshops, the transmission routes of decorative motifs, the symbology of capitals in religious and palatine contexts, and the carving techniques employed in stone and marble are addressed. The result is a comparative vision that puts the artistic traditions of different territories and eras into dialogue, offering new interpretative keys regarding a key architectural element in the history of medieval art.
Main Topics
- Evolution of the Corinthian capital from Late Antiquity to the Middle Ages.
- Formal and decorative analysis of Pre-Romanesque capitals (Visigothic, Asturian, Mozarabic).
- Influence of Islamic art on the production of capitals in al-Andalus.
- Carving techniques, materials, and organization of medieval workshops.
- Transmission of artistic models between the Eastern Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula.
- Symbolism and function of capitals in liturgical and civil spaces.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at art historians, archaeologists, architects, and university students specializing in medieval, Pre-Romanesque, and Islamic art. It is also of great interest to museum curators, restorers, and cultural heritage professionals working with architectural elements from this period. Likewise, it can be a valuable work for advanced enthusiasts of medieval art seeking rigorous and up-to-date analysis on a specific sculptural typology.
What this book provides
- Access to research by top-tier international specialists gathered in a single volume.
- A comparative perspective that integrates classical, Pre-Romanesque, and Islamic traditions in the study of the capital.
- Graphic documentation and detailed analyses that facilitate the identification and dating of pieces.
- An update on the state of the art regarding workshops, techniques, and routes of artistic influence in the Early Middle Ages.
- Reference material for future research and fieldwork in archaeology and art history.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Various Authors
- Publisher: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. Area d
- Language: Spanish
- Collection: PENDING COLLECTION
- Binding: Other
- Publication date: January 1991
- Number of pages: 182
- Weight: 800 g
Editorial Review
This is a benchmark academic publication in the field of medieval art history, especially valuable for bringing together the proceedings of an international colloquium with the participation of specialists from three countries. Its multidisciplinary and chronologically broad approach allows for the study of the capital from complementary perspectives, making it a useful tool for both researchers and heritage professionals. Although its content is highly specialized, the work maintains a level of depth that satisfies the needs of an audience knowledgeable in the subject. It is, without a doubt, an essential title for specialized libraries and art documentation centers.