Apse of Sant Climent, Taüll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Apse of Sant Climent, Taüll |
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| Artist | Master of Taüll |
| Year | c. 1123 |
| Type | Fresco transferred to canvas |
| Dimensions | 620 cm × 360 cm (240 in × 140 in) |
| Location | Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona |
The Apse of Sant Climent de Taüll (which means "Apse of Saint Clement of Taüll" in Catalan) is a very famous Romanesque fresco painting. It is now kept in the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain. This amazing artwork is considered one of the best examples of European Romanesque art. We don't know the name of the artist, so they are called the Master of Taüll.
The painting was made in the early 12th century, around the year 1123. It was originally painted inside the Sant Climent de Taüll church, located in the Vall de Boí area of the Catalan Pyrenees mountains. The mural covered the curved ceiling, called the apse, of the church. Between 1919 and 1923, the painting was carefully moved to Barcelona. This was done to protect it and keep it safe in a museum.
A copy of the mural was put in its place at the church. However, some original parts of the church's decoration are still there. The museum in Barcelona also has other paintings from the church, like those from the arches and a side apse.
What the Painting Shows
This painting is special because it brings together ideas from different parts of the Bible, like the books of Revelation and Isaiah and Ezekiel. It shows the Christ of the Day of Judgement. Imagine Christ appearing from the background, creating a feeling of movement from the center of the artwork. The artist used outlines and colors very skillfully to make everything look real and full of life. This artwork is so powerful that even famous 20th-century artists like Picasso and Francis Picabia were amazed by it!
Let's look at the details:
- The round shape under Christ's feet stands for the Earth.
- The bright circle around his head, called a halo, shows that he is divine.
- Christ's right hand is raised in a sign of blessing.
- In his left hand, he holds a book with the words "EGO SUM LUX MUNDI." This means "I am the light of the world."
- On either side of Christ, you can see the symbols Alpha and Omega. They hang like lamps and mean that God is the beginning and the end of everything.
- Around Christ, there are four figures that represent the four writers of the Gospels, called evangelists.
- To the right, an angel is next to a lion. The lion is a symbol for St. Mark.
- To the left, an angel is holding the tail of a bull. The bull is a symbol for St. Luke.
- The other two evangelists are in the triangular spaces on either side of Christ. One angel holds a Gospel Book, representing St. Matthew. The other angel holds an eagle, which is the symbol for St. John.
- Below the main painting of Christ, you can see other important figures. These include St. Thomas, St. Bartholomew, the Mother of God (Virgin Mary), St. John the Evangelist, St. James, and St. Philip.
- The Mother of God holds a bowl from which red rays come out. These rays represent the blood of Christ.
History of the Artwork
The paintings from the central apse of Sant Climent in Taüll are some of the most important pieces in the museum's collection of Romanesque art. They are truly one of the best examples of Romanesque art ever made.
The main idea of the apse painting is a "Theophany," which means a vision of God, especially at the end of time. This idea comes mostly from the Bible's Book of Revelation. In the middle, Christ is shown in his majesty, inside a special almond-shaped frame called a mandorla. He is sitting on the arc of Heaven with the Earth at his feet. He blesses with his right hand and holds a book in his left hand that says "EGO SUM LUX MUNDI" ("I am the light of the world"). On both sides of him are the Alpha and the Omega symbols, showing that God is the start and end of all things.
Saints, apostles, and the Virgin Mary are shown below Christ. On the arches leading into the apse, there are scenes from both the Old and New Testaments. One notable scene shows Lazarus the beggar at the door of the rich man Epulon's house. At the very top, you can see the hand of God and the Agnus Dei (the Lamb of God). These symbolize Christ's death and resurrection.
The style of the painting is very interesting. It combines geometric shapes and a balanced, symmetrical design. But it also has many decorative details and ornaments. The way the artist painted the folds of clothing (drapery) makes them look very three-dimensional, using colored lines and layers of paint. This contrasts with the flat colors of the background. The way God is shown, very formal and facing forward, might have been influenced by Byzantine art, possibly through Italy. The colored bands in the backgrounds, seen in many Catalan Romanesque paintings, might remind us of a style called Mozarabic illumination from old Spanish manuscripts.
The amazing quality of these paintings has been confirmed by studying the paints themselves. The pigments (colors) used were of better quality and prepared more carefully than those in other Catalan churches. Some of the pigments were even imported from other places! The painter used layers of paint to create more intense and vibrant colors. For example, blue paint, made from a mineral called aerinite, was put over a layer of black. Red paint, made from cinnabar, was put over a layer of haematite.
On one of the church columns, there is an inscription that says Bishop Ramon de Roda from Ribagorza consecrated (officially opened) the church on December 10, 1123. This date is very important because it helps us know when the paintings were made. Some parts of the original paintings are still in the church today.
See also
In Spanish: Ábside de San Clemente de Tahull para niños
