Arnau Cadell facts for kids
Arnau Cadell was a famous sculptor from Catalonia (a region in Spain). He lived in the 1100s and early 1200s. He is most famous for designing the beautiful cloister at the Monastery of Sant Cugat.
Who Was Arnau Cadell?
Arnau Cadell was a talented architect, sculptor, and master builder. He led a team of skilled artists. This team traveled around, creating amazing decorations. Their art often showed stories from the Bible.
It is thought that Cadell and his team went to Sant Cugat. There, they worked on the monastery. He designed special stone carvings called capitals and covered walkways called cloisters. The work at Sant Cugat Monastery started around 1190.
Cadell also created similar art at the Cathedral of Girona. He might have also designed the entrances of the church of St. Peter in Santpedor. He may also have worked on the Santa Maria de Manresa basilica.
What Did He Create?
Cadell's designs on the capitals were very detailed. They showed plants, special Corinthian figures, and scenes from the lives of monks. He also carved historical stories from the Bible.
The cloister at Sant Cugat is his most famous work. It has 144 Corinthian capitals. These were finished over several years. The capitals on the east, west, and north sides were likely done in the late 1100s. The ones on the south side were probably finished in the early 1200s.
On one of the pillars, you can see a self-portrait of Cadell. It shows him carving a Corinthian capital.
Cadell's sculptures are similar to others found in different places. These include the capitals at the Sant Pere de Galligants abbey. They also look like the cloisters at the Cathedral of Girona. There are also similarities to art at the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, France. This shows that artists from Toulouse influenced his work.
However, many believe Cadell learned his skills in Girona. He also passed away there. He is thought to have made the cloisters at the Girona Cathedral between 1180 and 1190. This was just before he moved to Sant Cugat. Even though there are no official records, his art shows strong links. Both his works include Bible stories and scenes from everyday life.
Arnau Cadell's Signature
Arnau Cadell was one of the first Catalan artists known by his full name. We have a document from him, dated October 13, 1221. He signed it in Girona. In this document, he gave his belongings to the Monastery of Sant Cugat.
A copy of this important paper was found in Girona. It was kept in a drawer. The document shows that Arnau Cadell owned property in Sant Cugat. He also had loans in Girona. This will is now kept in the archives of the Girona Diocese.
At the Sant Cugat monastery, there is a special signature. It is in Latin, on a pillar in the northeast part of the cloister. This writing is next to Cadell's self-portrait. It says:
This means: "This is the image of the sculptor Arnau Cadell, who built such a lasting cloister."
Two other documents from the monastery, from 1206 and 1207, also have his signature.
His Legacy
It seems Arnau Cadell did not have children. His will left some of his belongings to a young nephew. He also gave a large gift to the Monastery of Sant Cugat. The monastery still owed him money for his work on the cloisters. His will shared money among the monks. It also gave donations to different altars in the church. This meant the monastery got his amazing sculptures at a low cost.
Arnau Cadell's name is still remembered today. A local high school, IES Arnau Cadell, is named after him. It is located in Valldoreix, near Sant Cugat.
See also
In Spanish: Arnau Cadell para niños
