College of Our Lady of Antigua
Encyclopedia
The College of Our Lady of Antigua is located in the town of Monforte de Lemos
(Lugo, Spain
), in the Ribeira Sacra. Built in the Herreriano, the school of Our Lady of Antigua is often known as El Escorial
of Galicia, being of the few manifestations of this style in this community.
It s forever linked to the figure of its founder, Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro
, perhaps the last great ecclesiastical prince of the Renaissance
in Spain, Archbishop of Seville and great benefactor of Monforte as well as patron of the arts.
The college was a Seminary until 1773 and later a University
, displaying up to seven chairs in a time when it was not yet established in the province. Originally run by the Jesuits
, their order was expelled from Spain, through the Pragmatic Sanction of 1767 led to the elimination of any existing symbol to remember their existence in the country.
of wood, carved by Francisco de Moure, which could not be completed in his life and was completed by his son. On one side of the altar, it is possible to observe a praying statue of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, created by John of Bologna, and highly regarded for its perfection and uniqueness. The statue, located on the remains of Cardinal, is confronted with a picture of Our Lady of Antigua. It was found that behind the painting was another tomb, and various studies revealed that it was the mother of the Cardinal.
The school has two cloisters, and appears to be incomplete in its west wing. It also has an important art gallery, which highlights several Greco
. Foremost among these is a masterly Francis of Assisi
, which seems to wonder about life and death while holding a skull. According to critics and experts, it is a work of such high quality that matches or even exceeds that of the known works of the artist, constituting one of the crowning achievements of El Greco
.
The San Lorenzo (Lawrence of Rome) is also a very popular work, being one of the few devotional paintings done by the painter on his arrival in Toledo
, where it was purchased by Rodrigo de Castro during his time in the Inquisition
. Other works include five works of the painter Mannerist
Andrea del Sarto
, "St. Margaret of Cortona", "St. Agnes", "St. Catherine of Alexandria", "San Pedro" and "San Juan Bautista". The painting "The Adoration of the Magi" by Van der Goes
is only a copy, since the original was sold in 1913 to Staatliche Museen in Berlin for one million two hundred thousand pesetas allowing completion of the works of the school. The gallery is complete with two works by the School of Compostela, "Death" and "Doomsday", and an anonymous portrait of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro. The museum also has several incunabula and manuscripts, among them an incomplete copy of "Libro de la Caza de las Aves" ("Book of Bird Hunting"), a treatise on falconry
by Pedro López de Ayala which he authored during his captivity in Portugal, as well as personal belongings of the cardinal.
It should be noted also the monumental staircase, built from 1594 to 1603, is located in the east wing, and its design is particularly interesting because it is built on three arches, without apparent support, that support thirteen, nine thirteen steps each. The ladder is held because of a carefully calculated play of forces. Their steps are also worthy of note to be carved from a single piece of granite of high quality. On the ground you can see the drawing of the projection of the staircase, drawn for its construction.
Monforte de Lemos
Monforte de Lemos is a city and municipality in northwestern Spain, in the province of Lugo, Galicia. It covers an area of 200 km² and lies 62 km from Lugo. As of 2005 it had a population of 19,472. It is located in a valley between the shores of Sil River and Miño River, in the area...
(Lugo, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), in the Ribeira Sacra. Built in the Herreriano, the school of Our Lady of Antigua is often known as El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
of Galicia, being of the few manifestations of this style in this community.
It s forever linked to the figure of its founder, Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro
Rodrigo de Castro Osorio
Rodrigo de Castro Osorio, was Cardinal-Bishop of Zamora and Diocese of Cuenca , Archbishop of Seville, , a member of the Council of State of Spain and the Supreme Council of the Spanish Inquisition for the reign of Philip II of Spain. Great-uncle of Pedro Fernández de Castro y Andrade, Conde de...
, perhaps the last great ecclesiastical prince of the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
in Spain, Archbishop of Seville and great benefactor of Monforte as well as patron of the arts.
The college was a Seminary until 1773 and later a University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, displaying up to seven chairs in a time when it was not yet established in the province. Originally run by the Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, their order was expelled from Spain, through the Pragmatic Sanction of 1767 led to the elimination of any existing symbol to remember their existence in the country.
Heritage
The church has an impressive altarAltar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of wood, carved by Francisco de Moure, which could not be completed in his life and was completed by his son. On one side of the altar, it is possible to observe a praying statue of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, created by John of Bologna, and highly regarded for its perfection and uniqueness. The statue, located on the remains of Cardinal, is confronted with a picture of Our Lady of Antigua. It was found that behind the painting was another tomb, and various studies revealed that it was the mother of the Cardinal.
The school has two cloisters, and appears to be incomplete in its west wing. It also has an important art gallery, which highlights several Greco
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
. Foremost among these is a masterly Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
, which seems to wonder about life and death while holding a skull. According to critics and experts, it is a work of such high quality that matches or even exceeds that of the known works of the artist, constituting one of the crowning achievements of El Greco
El Greco
El Greco was a painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El Greco" was a nickname, a reference to his ethnic Greek origin, and the artist normally signed his paintings with his full birth name in Greek letters, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος .El Greco was born on Crete, which was at...
.
The San Lorenzo (Lawrence of Rome) is also a very popular work, being one of the few devotional paintings done by the painter on his arrival in Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, where it was purchased by Rodrigo de Castro during his time in the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
. Other works include five works of the painter Mannerist
Mannerism
Mannerism is a period of European art that emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. It lasted until about 1580 in Italy, when a more Baroque style began to replace it, but Northern Mannerism continued into the early 17th century throughout much of Europe...
Andrea del Sarto
Andrea del Sarto
Andrea del Sarto was an Italian painter from Florence, whose career flourished during the High Renaissance and early Mannerism. Though highly regarded during his lifetime as an artist senza errori , his renown was eclipsed after his death by that of his contemporaries, Leonardo da Vinci,...
, "St. Margaret of Cortona", "St. Agnes", "St. Catherine of Alexandria", "San Pedro" and "San Juan Bautista". The painting "The Adoration of the Magi" by Van der Goes
Hugo van der Goes
Hugo van der Goes was a Flemish painter. He was, along with Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Hans Memling and Gerard David, one of the most important of the Early Netherlandish painters.-Biography:...
is only a copy, since the original was sold in 1913 to Staatliche Museen in Berlin for one million two hundred thousand pesetas allowing completion of the works of the school. The gallery is complete with two works by the School of Compostela, "Death" and "Doomsday", and an anonymous portrait of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro. The museum also has several incunabula and manuscripts, among them an incomplete copy of "Libro de la Caza de las Aves" ("Book of Bird Hunting"), a treatise on falconry
Falconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
by Pedro López de Ayala which he authored during his captivity in Portugal, as well as personal belongings of the cardinal.
It should be noted also the monumental staircase, built from 1594 to 1603, is located in the east wing, and its design is particularly interesting because it is built on three arches, without apparent support, that support thirteen, nine thirteen steps each. The ladder is held because of a carefully calculated play of forces. Their steps are also worthy of note to be carved from a single piece of granite of high quality. On the ground you can see the drawing of the projection of the staircase, drawn for its construction.