Granada and the Alhambra: A brief description of the ancient city of Granada, with a particular account of the Moorish palaceCalvert, Albert Frederick
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Granada and the Alhambra: A brief description of the ancient city of Granada, with a particular account of the Moorish palace
Calvert, Albert Frederick
Alhambra (Granada, Spain); Art -- Spain -- Granada; Granada (Spain) -- Description and travel
The chapel of Santa Ana covers the vault intended for the archbishops,
and contains a good sixteenth-century altar-piece, and a St. Jean de
Matha (a Frenchman, not a Spaniard) by Bocanegra. The six chapels that
follow present no features of interest. The fourth chapel on the left
side of the Cathedral is named La Virgen de la Antigua, after a Gothic
image greatly venerated by Ferdinand the Catholic, and regarded with
great reverence by the devout of Granada. Here are two portraits by Juan
de Sevilla of Ferdinand and Isabella at prayer; the king is clad in
armour. The paintings are in the Venetian style. Of the retablo by
Cornejo, the less said the better. Cano’s realistic heads of Saints John
and Paul reflect the fondness of the pietists of his day for the
morbid--they are in the Chapel of the Virgen del Carmen. The first
chapel, or baptistry, was erected by Adam and Aguado, at the expense of
Archbishop Galvan, who is buried here near another occupant of the
episcopal throne, Don Bienvenido Monzón. The fine reliefs of Saints
Jerome and Isidore are by Mora. We have now reached the entrance doors,
on each side of which hangs a good painting. The three pictures over the
doors represent mystic allegories.
The most interesting feature of the chapter room, or Sala Capitular, is
the noble porch, with its figures of Justice and Prudence, which, with
the group of the Trinity, may be safely attributed to Maeda.
Before leaving the Cathedral, the sacristy should be visited. It
contains Cano’s _Assumption_ and two small statues by him; a _Crucifix_
by Montañez; a _Holy Family_, by Juan de Sevilla; and a _Mary
Immaculate_ by Bocanegra. The treasury contains some wonderfully
embroidered vestments, and good, but not extraordinary, examples of the
silversmith’s craft. The signet ring of Sixtus III., and the monstrance
presented by Isabella, have of course, an historical interest.
A casket is also shown to visitors, who are assured it is that in which
were placed the jewels pawned by Isabella to provide funds for
Columbus’s first voyage. If this is true, Pandora’s box was as nothing
compared to this one! The Queen’s Missal, the work of Francisco Flores,
is beautifully illuminated. It is placed on the high altar on the
anniversary of the Reconquest. Those interested in arms will handle with
curiosity the sword of Ferdinand the Catholic; the hilt has a spherical
pommel and drooping quillons with branches towards the blade, which is
grooved for about two-thirds of its length. Other relics of the Catholic
sovereigns are their sceptre, Isabella’s crown, the royal standards used
at the Reconquest, and a chasuble said to have been embroidered by the
Queen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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