The Tabernacle Chapel in the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba (Spain)

Español Inglés Francés Alemán Japonés

Tabernacle Chapel

        This chapel was created in 1330 by a Don Juan Ponce de Cabrera’s widow, whenDetail of the Tabernacle Chapel this last gave to the Cabildo Catedralicio the sum of 500 maravedies (currency of the time), which would be used to bury her husband and next her family. Since the beginning it was known as Chapel of Saint James Apostle. Situated at the south east top of the building, it occupied the first three naves of Almanzor’s Enlargement, with a depth of four intercolumns.
        Since 1980 the Cabildo Catedralicio (Government of the Church) tried to move the Capitular Library, who was then inCentral vault of the Tabernacle Chapel the Chapel of Saint Clement. Though, after three frustrated attempts, till 1517 the works didn’t begin.
        The chosen architected was Hernán Ruíz I the Old, master of the Main Chapel. From him it’s memorable, the doors of the entrance of the chapel, situated in the North. Only two of them are originally conserved, because the central entrance was renewed by his grandson Hernán RuizCapital of the Tabernacle Chapel III in 1571.
        The Cabildo Catedralicio decided it would be the ideal space for fitting the Tabernacle Chapel that since the XIIII Century was located in the side chapel to the Chapel of Saint Peter (ancient space for the Mihrab). In 1581 began to move all the material there.
        The first to work on the chapel was Luis de Valdivieso for decorating the archs and vaults, we know that Fernando de Valencia (blacksmith of the Cathedral) made the griddles and he died before finishing them and in 1581 had to finish them Juan Martínez (assistant of Valencia). Before 1578 the tabernacle was ended by Guillermo de Orta and in that made by Alonso Rivera. Central Nave of the Tabernacle Chapel
        Even an Italian painter, Cesare Arbasia, from Saluzzo collaborated into the Tabernacle Chapel. This last was Pablo Cespedes’s friend whit whom, he worked in Rome. The works began in 1583 and ended in 1586.
        Then we will study the iconography made by Arbasia. In the central nave, on the Tabernacle of Guillermo Orta, between the painting of King David and Isaiah Prophet, you find the “Holy Dinner”, a masterpiece that evokes the eucaristy. This masterpiece was qualitificated as the Leonard’s level.
        The other iconographies are inspired by the discovering of the saints martyrs relics, found in the Minor Basilica of Saint Peter. At the bottom of the nave of the epistols nave you find “The Prayer inFresco painting of the de Saints Martyrs standing out Saint Victory the Garden”, work inspired by Albert Durer, whereas in the evangelis nave you can admire "Jesus say goodbye to his Mother".
        There are other frescos that represent other martyrs of Córdoba, are disposed chronologically: Saint Zoilus, Saint Eulogius and Saint Acisclus. The Saint Victory is considered one of the most important for it’s clothes and serenity. Above every group of Mathers we find a different landscape, which made famous its artist in Italy. The intrados of the archs were decorated with angels and Passion symbols. The decoration of the vault, was projected by Hernán Ruiz I th Old, was decorated as a sky full angels.


Text: J.A.S.C.

Traslated by Sara Moretti