Oficina de Turismo de Laguardia
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Art
CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA: The Front Façade
The first piece of art we can see inside the church is the extraordinary front of La Vigen de los Reyes (The Kings Virgin) whose building, made of sculptured stone, dates from the end of the 14 th century, although its polychromy belongs to the end of the 17 th century.
Due to its architectonic relevance and to its present state we have included a complete chapter, which you can see by pressing the button below.
It is made of stone and it consists of a double Gothic arch that is sharply pointed, forming five archivolts, all of them profusely decorated.
Here some human figures (Virgins, prophets, martyrs, kings, angels) appear together with plant motifs. The first archivolt is decorated with angels playing musical instruments as an accompaniment to the scenes that make up the tympanum; above all to the one that represents “The Last Supper” right under the keystone of the arch. The next scene is made up of intertwined plant motifs together with prophets and kings, and it is topped by the widening of the front façade.
All the figures are standing and covered by a beautiful small canopy which, in its turn, is the leaning point of the figure that is right over it. The small canopies are decorated with fine thin gables and openwork ornamentation.
The jambs form widening outwards, and are decorated with six apostles that are slightly bigger than life-size. They are sculptured in a very fine way and are a little more elongated than usual, with the intention of evocating spiritual highness.
They are in a front position although some heads are slightly tilted trying to appear more natural. The tunics covering the bodies show very natural folds. This aspect is enhanced by their facial gestures; all of them are bearded and look very natural, with a hair style that suits perfectly.
They are all holding a book and an object that makes each one different from the rest (Saint Peter with the keys, Saint James the Greater with his pilgrim's staff and scallop etc.)
All the images are standing on pedestals that are profusely decorated with gables showing some figures of animals, monsters etc. The top is covered with a wonderfully decorated canopy, in the same way as the figures at the archivolts.
The image of “La Virgen de los Reyes” has an outstanding position among the twelve apostles and it is located at the mullion of the double door leading into the temple. This sculpture rests on a high pedestal and from here it presides over the whole scene at the front façade.
The sculpture is very well made and has a fine finish. It is standing and holding the figure of the Infant on her left arm, with her head slightly tilted towards him, trying to create a motherly scene in which the Mother and the Infant are speaking to each other in a casual way. The figure is a little foreshortened right above the Infant's waist in order to counterbalance his weight and, in this way, it appears in a perfect position.
At the sides there is a double door, topped by segmental trefoil arches that are decorated at the spandrels, with openwork ornamentation between the lobes. These arches are the base of the tympanum, which tops the front façade and completes this piece of art.
The tympanum is divided into three horizontal fascians that are profusely decorated with continuous relief work, representing scenes of the life of Jesus and the Virgin: Annunciation, Visitation, Epiphany, Dormition etc.
The finishing touch is the scene of the Virgin's Coronation; it is the only scene at the upper fascia of the tympanum.
It's worth mentioning the polychromy that covers the images at the front façade. It is perfectly preserved since it is sheltered from the weather. This polychromy was applied after the making of the façade between 1696 and 1700.
The vault covering this chapel dates from the 16 th century and it is star-shaped and built with Mudejar keystones.
The sanctuary of the temple was demolished around the middle of the 16 th century and it was enlarged. This meant the widening and transformation of a part of the transept and the apse. This architectural change was carried out in Renaissance style.
The change also included the making of the present apse, which is octagonal outwards and semicircular inwards. A part of the crossing vaults, mainly the middle segment was also made at this time together with the widening of the vestry at the southeast of the apse.
Once the apse was finished Juan de Bacardó was able to begin the making of the “Retablo Mayor” (the main reredos) It was an artistic rebirth where we can see the mannerist style and the Baroque art that begins to be influenced by the new artistic fashion coming from abroad.
Ayuntamiento de Laguardia
Guardiako Udala
© 2005