Description
Furniture and liturgical furnishings in Romanesque churches
Book summary
This collective work offers an in-depth and specialized analysis of the objects and furniture that formed the sacred space of Romanesque churches. Through studies signed by renowned experts, the reader will discover the function, symbolism, and evolution of elements such as altars, frontals, baptismal fonts, chairs, choirs, and reliquaries. An indispensable resource for understanding how art and liturgy intertwined in the Middle Ages, providing a comprehensive vision of ecclesiastical heritage.
What is it about?
The book brings together six monographic studies that examine different typologies of Romanesque furniture and liturgical furnishings. Manuel Castiñeiras González analyzes the Romanesque altar and its associated furniture, such as frontals, beams, and baldachins. Jordi Camps i Sòria focuses on devotional images, studying crucifixes, descent from the cross scenes, and Romanesque virgins in Catalonia, their workshops and typologies. Ramón Yzquierdo Perrín addresses the location and functions of medieval chairs, choirs, and cathedrae. José Luis Hernando Garrido examines Romanesque baptismal fonts in Castile and León, with special attention to their iconography. María Luisa Martín Ansón describes liturgical furnishings, detailing the objects used in worship. Finally, Ángela Franco Mata explores reliquaries from the 11th and 12th centuries, both in Byzantium and Europe, as a manifestation of faith.
Main themes
- The Romanesque altar and its liturgical furniture: frontals, beams, and baldachins.
- Romanesque devotional imagery in Catalonia: crucifixes, descent from the cross scenes, and virgins.
- Location and functions of medieval chairs, choirs, and cathedrae.
- Iconography of Romanesque baptismal fonts in Castile and León.
- Liturgical furnishings: objects for worship in Romanesque churches.
- Reliquaries of the 11th and 12th centuries in Byzantium and Europe.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at art historians, archaeologists, heritage conservators, university students of medieval art, and Romanesque enthusiasts with an advanced level of knowledge. It will also be of great use to cultural tourism professionals and specialized guides who wish to delve into the liturgy and ecclesiastical furniture of the period.
What this book provides
- A detailed and updated analysis of Romanesque furniture and liturgical furnishings, based on research by specialists.
- A comprehensive vision that connects liturgical function with iconography and the artistic evolution of each piece.
- Specific regional studies (Catalonia, Castile and León) that allow for the comparison of typologies and workshops.
- Contextualization of Romanesque reliquaries within the European and Byzantine framework, broadening the geographical perspective.
Technical specifications
- Author: Various authors
- Publisher: Fundación Santa María la Real Centro de Estudios d
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: History of art: Byzantine and medieval art c. 50, architecture, building construction and materials
- Collection: Santa María la Real
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: August 2011
- Number of pages: 294
- Weight: 800 g
Editorial assessment
This is a reference work for the study of Romanesque art from a liturgical and material perspective. The combination of several specialized authors guarantees a rigorous and diverse approach, covering everything from altar furniture to reliquaries. Its reading will be especially enriching for those seeking to understand the meaning and function of sacred objects beyond their mere artistic description.