López Ferreiro Room of the Cathedral Archive of SantiagoThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
The Archive of the Cathedral of Santiago holds a series of documents of great historical importance from medieval and modern times. Many of them contain miniatures of great artistic quality, even considered milestones in the European miniaturist tradition.
Romanesque period
In the Romanesque period, Archbishop Diego Gelmirez promoted the cathedral scriptorium, possibly with Anglo-Norman and French miniaturists who trained local artists. Two codices stand out: the Tumbo A and the Liber Sancti Iacobi.
Miniature of Doña Urraca from the Tumbo A (1129-1256) by Compostelan ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
Tumbo A
Tumbo A is a cartulary containing royal donations and privileges that benefited the seat of Compostela. It consists of 71 folios made in four stages of execution. Its artistic value is highlighted by the miniatures that portray the protagonists of the donations.
Tumbo A (h. 1129-1134) by Compostelano ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
At the beginning is the representation of the inventio and the portraits of Alfonso II and Ordoño I, which will be imitated throughout the work, appearing enthroned, with a cushion, projected in height and with their feet on a footstool.
The miniatures of Ferdinand II and Alfonso IX belong to the next two phases, depicted on horseback at the top of the page with the heraldic lion at the bottom, a sign of their status as kings of León and Galicia.
In the last stage, the portraits of Ferdinand III and Alfonso X were added. Although the lion is removed from the lower part, the heraldic motifs indicating the reunification of the kingdoms of León and Castile are shown in both scenes.
Illuminated Initial of the Codex Calixtinus. C of Calixtus (Mid 12th century) by Compostelan ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
Liber Sancti Iacobi
The Liber Sancti Iacobi has miniatures and decorated initials of great stylistic unity. However, some formal differences suggest that several hands from the same workshop were involved. The capital letters such as C for CALIXTVS and I for IACOBVS stand out.
Frontispiece of the Historia Turpini, Book IV of the Codex Calixtinus (Mid 12th century) by Compostelan ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
The large initial of TVRPINVS is a full-page miniature with the arms of the letter surmounted by geometric and vegetal interlacing with zoomorphic heads. In the centre, under a lion's head, Archbishop Turpin of Reims is depicted seated in an oval.
Miniature of Charlemagne’s Dream in Book IV of the Codex Calixtinus (Mid 12th century) by Compostelan ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
Another of the most remarkable miniatures depicts the apparition of Saint James in a dream to Charlemagne to ask him to free his tomb. He is depicted lying on the emperor's bed, pointing with his forefinger to the stars that will guide him to Compostela.
Gothic period
During the Gothic period, the scriptorium lost interest in illumination. A miniature is preserved in Tumbo B, with two scenes: St James enthroned on the high altar and St James on horseback defending the Church of Compostela against the bourgeois uprisings of the 14th century.
15th century
Illumination was revived in the 15th century, with the production of the Miranda Breviary. The illuminations are limited to the margins, borders or capital letters, of great richness, highlighting plant motifs, heraldic motifs and characters that are difficult to identify.
16th century
From the 16th century, two documents stand out: a copy of the Bula Regis Eterni of Alexander III, whose initial letter contains a representation of Santiago on horseback, and the Real Ejecutoria of Philip II, which can be seen in the following slide.
Royal Decree of Philip II (1576)The Catedral de Santiago Foundation
The Royal Executoria of Philip II contains five miniatures depicting the Epiphany, the Defeat of Albelda, the Battle of Clavijo, the Privilege of Ramiro and a portrait of Philip II, the only one that does not occupy the entire page.
17th century
In the 17th century, the Real Ejecutoria de Felipe III was produced. Its main miniature shows Santiago Miles Christi riding over enemies, flanked by phytomorphic figures and vases. His armour stands out, similar to that of Philip III in the portrait by Pantoja de la Cruz.
18th century
From the collection of musical books, the Cantoral de D. Andrés de Gondar, from the 18th century, stands out. Composed of 73 folios, it has eight miniatures that revolve around the figure of St. James, his status as patron saint of Spain and his relationship with the crown.
Detail of Breviary of Miranda (Mid 15th century) by Compostelan ScriptoriumThe Catedral de Santiago Foundation
This exhibition is part of a research, cataloguing and dissemination project of the Cathedral's Pictorial Collection carried out with the collaboration of the Deputation of A Coruña, with the aim of contributing to a greater knowledge of it.
Director: Ramón Yzquierdo Peiró
Texts: Melissa García Maseda, Ana Eiroa Candal
Images: Fundación Catedral de Santiago.
This exhibition is part of the project Historia Pinxit. Espacios, temas y personajes en la pintura de la Catedral Compostelana, framed within the FO200 programme of subsidies to foundations and non-profit organisations in the Province of A Coruña, owners of museums, interpretation centres or libraries for the development of cultural activities during the year 2024 of the Diputación de A Coruña.
