Sometimes the titles of styles lend themselves to confusion and lead to errors that are difficult to eradicate. This is the case of the treasure of San Isidoro de León, which, although it has come down to us in a much diminished state, originally represented a collection of artistic works of great quality and beauty. It was donated by King Ferdinand I and Doña Sancha to San Isidoro in 1063, that is, when the Hispanic liturgy, linked to tradition, was in full force.
The art should not be ascribed to the Romanesque style, which in the Hispanic kingdoms is fundamentally related to works after 1080, the year of the Council of Burgos, which imposed the use of the Roman liturgy. The Oviedo treasure, like the Asturian monarchy itself, refers back to the ancient Visigothic monarchy. The Visigothic kingdom of Toledo was a constant point of reference in the artistic and political projects emanating from the court of Oviedo. The survival of iconographic types, such as the Greek cross with pawed arms, in the most varied arts, as well as the continuity of certain offerings, is nothing more than a manifestation of respect for tradition rather than an interest in introducing new fashions. The custom of donating votive wreaths of the type found in the Guarrazar treasure survives during the reign of Fernando I.
The commissioning of a Beatus by the same monarch, which is the most genuine manifestation of Hispanic monastic liturgy, must also be considered to have survived. Romanesque art is reflected in some later, particularly important works, such as the Holy Ark in Oviedo Cathedral.

Collection: Texts

Project: 10. Churches and religions in Europe.

Chronology: -

Scope: Secondary Education

Link: http://www.man.es/man/dam/jcr:a9fb6c3d-d6bc-4885-bfe2-da58292a72f4/man-bol-2009-2010-franco-mata.pdf

Resource type: pdf

Format: Texts

Owner: Arqueological National Museum of Spain (MAN) (Modernalia)

Abstract: Sometimes the titles of styles lend themselves to confusion and lead to errors that are difficult to eradicate. This is the case of the treasure of San Isidoro de León, which, although it has come down to us in a much diminished state, originally represented a collection of artistic works of great quality and beauty. It was donated by King Ferdinand I and Doña Sancha to San Isidoro in 1063, that is, when the Hispanic liturgy, linked to tradition, was in full force. The art should not be ascribed to the Romanesque style, which in the Hispanic kingdoms is fundamentally related to works after 1080, the year of the Council of Burgos, which imposed the use of the Roman liturgy. The Oviedo treasure, like the Asturian monarchy itself, refers back to the ancient Visigothic monarchy. The Visigothic kingdom of Toledo was a constant point of reference in the artistic and political projects emanating from the court of Oviedo. The survival of iconographic types, such as the Greek cross with pawed arms, in the most varied arts, as well as the continuity of certain offerings, is nothing more than a manifestation of respect for tradition rather than an interest in introducing new fashions. The custom of donating votive wreaths of the type found in the Guarrazar treasure survives during the reign of Fernando I. The commissioning of a Beatus by the same monarch, which is the most genuine manifestation of Hispanic monastic liturgy, must also be considered to have survived. Romanesque art is reflected in some later, particularly important works, such as the Holy Ark in Oviedo Cathedral.

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