In Spain, pearls of sacred art are scattered throughout the territory, which are worth stopping to contemplate them. Traditionally, baroque images of various schools stand out, the carvings of which are annually paraded in Seville or Valladolid. On the one hand, Castilian – with more heightened realism – and on the other – Andalusian, more calm; not forgetting, of course, the Murcians, led by Salcillo. Artists worked in different guilds, which led to the birth of brotherhoods, and with them processions. Over time, new artists appeared who preserved this tradition.
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Valladolid
Galician sculptor Gregorio Fernández is the author of this realistic sculpture of El Señora Atado a la Columna, commissioned in 1619 by the Brotherhood of Vera Cruz in Valladolid and paraded every Maundy Monday. This carving was imitated by other sculptors of the Baroque era, without achieving its exceptional beauty.
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Valladolid
Juan de Juni is another of the authors of the Holy Week handbook in Valladolid. Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as Our Lady of the Knives, is one of the oldest Holy Week carvings in the city, dating back to 1561.
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Segovia
Gregorio Fernández was able to capture the expressiveness of other authors such as Berruguete or Juan de Juni and gained worldwide recognition for his “Reclining Christs”, “Immaculate Conception” and “Pieta”, icons of sacred art. The Cathedral of Segovia guards this Reclining Christ from his last stage (1631 – 1636). Filled with blood that flows from his wounds. The image passes on Good Friday through the streets of the Castilian city.
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Salamanca
In Salamanca we can enjoy the work of Luis Salvador Carmona from the 18th century Castilian school. Image of Nuestro Padre Jesús Flagelado from the Nuestro Padre Jesús Flagelado Fraternity dates from 1760 and is kept in the Clerecía church.
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a lion
Gaspar Becerra, painter and sculptor of the Spanish Renaissance, is the author of the painting “Christ Flagellationsculpted in the second half of the 16th century – the rest of the figures were acquired in the 20th century.
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Murcia
Holy Week in Murcia goes hand in hand with Francisco Salsillo. You can visit the museum virtually at https://www.museosalzillo.es/virtual-visit/. The Garden Prayer from 1754 belongs to the Brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. It is worth stopping to consider the details of each of the figures.
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Malaga
We went to Malaga to enjoy one of the most famous processions in the city, the original carving of which was created by the Granada sculptor Pedro de Mena. This crucified Christ, dating from around 1660, was destroyed in 1931, leaving only part of one leg and one foot. The Spanish legion unloads this copy of Christ from Mena at the port and carries it on their shoulders to the church of Santo Domingo.
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Seville
All of Spain knows Seville’s devotion to its Cristo del Gran Poder, a masterpiece by Juan de Mesa from Córdoba. It dates from 1620 and is intended to be presented in a tunic. Jesus del Gran Poder performs penance with the Virgin del Mayor Dolor and Traspaso at dawn on Good Friday.
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Port Royal
Luisa Ignacia Roldan Villavicencio, better known as La Roldana, is the first recorded Spanish sculptor. Born in Seville around 1652, she stood out in Andalusian Baroque images of the 17th and early 18th centuries. Our Lady of Solitude from 1688 is one of his works. It is located in Puerto Real.
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Madrid
Thousands of people in Madrid worship the Christ of Medinaceli, a sculpture from the workshop of Juan de Mesa. The image leaves the Basilica of Jesus Medinaceli in procession on Good Friday.
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Grenade
The city of Granada also has carvings from the 16th century, such as this Soledad attributed to Pedro de Mena.
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Zamora
Ramon Alvarez is considered the best image maker of Zamora, and his work is scattered throughout the province. This master of the 19th century is the author of dozens of steps for the Holy Week in the capital, among which the carving “Grieving Mother of God” stands out.
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Palencia
This crucified Christ from the Church of San Francisco in Palencia is the work of the Scandinavian-born sculptor Alejo de Vajia. It is dated around 1500.