Altar frontal from Cardet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Altar frontal from Cardet |
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| Artist | Johannes. Ribagorça Workshop |
| Year | Second half of the 13th century |
| Type | Tempera, stucco reliefs and remains of varnished metal plate on wood |
| Dimensions | 97 cm × 162 cm (38 in × 64 in) |
| Location | Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona |
The Altar frontal from Cardet is a special art piece kept at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. An altar frontal is a decorative panel that covers the front of an altar in a church. This one is very old, made in the second half of the 13th century, which means it's over 750 years old!
Contents
What is the Altar Frontal from Cardet?
This beautiful altar frontal is one of the best examples from a group of artists known as the Ribagorza workshop. This workshop created many artworks with a similar style and technique. The Altar frontal from Cardet is often compared to another famous piece, the Altar frontal from Rigatell, because they share so many artistic features.
How Was It Made?
The artists used a special technique to make this artwork shine. They created raised designs called stucco reliefs on the backgrounds and frames. Imagine designs that stick out from the surface, like a 3D picture! These stucco reliefs were then covered with thin layers of metal and a yellow varnish, or paint, called colradura. This made them look like precious gold.
The paintings themselves use lots of bright colors. When the gold-like parts were still shiny, the whole artwork must have looked even more amazing and vibrant. Artworks like this were very popular back then, which is why many similar pieces have survived to this day.
Main Scene: Mary and Jesus
In the very center of the altar frontal, you can see the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. They are sitting on a throne inside an almond-shaped frame called a mandorla. Surrounding them are four symbolic creatures. These creatures represent the four writers of the Gospels in the Bible.
Stories from Jesus's Childhood
On the sides of the altar frontal, separated by thin columns, are different scenes from the early life of Jesus. These pictures tell a story, almost like a comic strip from long ago!
- The Annunciation: This scene shows an angel telling Mary that she will have a baby, Jesus.
- The Visitation: After the angel's visit, Mary goes to see her cousin, Saint Elizabeth.
- The Nativity: This picture shows the birth of Jesus. Behind Joseph, you can also see the Annunciation to the Shepherds. This part is full of interesting details, showing the landscape and people from that time.
- The Epiphany: Here, the Three Wise Men (or Magi) are shown bringing their gifts to Baby Jesus. They are facing the central figures of Mary and Jesus.
- The Slaughter of the Innocents: The last section shows two scenes without a clear divider. One is a sad story about soldiers, but it's hard to see all the details now because parts like the soldiers' spears and the children have been lost over time.
- The Flight into Egypt: The other scene shows Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus escaping to Egypt to keep Jesus safe.
See also
In Spanish: Frontal de altar de Cardet para niños
