Reliquary
In the Middle Ages, the cult of relics was especially important and the importance of a cathedral was measured depending on the quantity and quality of the relics kept inside. Since then, the Compostela Cathedral has an outstanding collection, for which important artistic pieces that would serve as containers and exhibitors of these relics were made; some of them are key works from the art collections of the cathedral
Saint James the Pilgrim from Geoffroy Coquatrix
Paris, Royal Workshop, Ca. 1321. Gold, gold-plated silver and enamels As it appears in the scroll that the figure carries in his left hand, it is a pilgrimage offering of the Parisian Geoffroy Coquatrix, an important member of the French court of the time and who was...
Reliquary bust of Saint James the Less
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Rodrigo Eáns, 1332. Gilded silver, gemstones, and enamels In 1116, Queen Urraca seized this relic, brought years before from Jerusalem to Braga; thus becoming, since then, the other Saint James of the cathedral. At the time of...
Saint James the Pilgrim from Iohannes Roucel
Paris, Ca. 1400. Gilded silver and silver, gilded copper and enamels The broad base of this statuette shows the pilgrimage offering of the French knight Johannes Roucel (Jean de Roussay) and his wife Johana, whose weapons appear on the shields that flank the text....
Holy Thorn Reliquary
Zaragoza, Ca. 1425. Silver, enamel, and crystal It might be an Offering to the Apostle made around 1425. Two angels wearing a Franciscan habit carry the instruments of the Passion of Christ and accompany the central front compartment, topped by Christ Crucified, in...
Saint James the Pilgrim from Archibishop Isorna
Santiago de Compostela, Francesco Marino, Ca. 1445. Gilded silver, gemstones, and enamels. This image of devotion was commissioned by the archbishop Álvaro Núñez de Isorna for his particular devotion to the silversmith Francesco Marino, of Italian origin but active in...
Virgin of the Lilies
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Francesco Marino, first quarter of the 15th century, gilded silver, enamels, and gemstones. It is one of the pieces of the Compostela Treasure attributed to the Italian silversmith Francesco Marino, who would work in Santiago for...
Statuette of Saint Peter
Santiago de Compostela, Ca. 1425. Gilded silver, enamel, and gemstones This piece is part of the set of images of devotion commissioned by Archbishop Lope de Mendoza for his private oratory, later acquired by his successor Álvaro Núñez de Isorna, and which were...
Statuette of Saint John the Baptist
Santiago de Compostela, Ca. 1425. Gilded silver, enamel, and gemstones This statuette and the statuette of Saint Peter are the two images of the group from the oratory of Archbishop Lope de Mendoza that have been attributed to a Compostela master silversmith of the...
Statuette of Saint Andrew
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Francesco Marino. Ca. 1425. Gilded silver, enamel, and gemstonesIt is one of the five images of devotion from the oratory of Archbishop Lope de Mendoza that have been preserved in the Compostela Treasure and the only one...
Statuette of Saint Francis of Assisi
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Vicente Flamengo, Ca. 1425. Gilded silver, enamel, and gemstones The Franciscan habit, as well as his characterization and the attributes that he carries in his hands, the skull, and the cross identify the image of Saint Francis...
Statuette of Saint Dominic of Guzmán
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Vicente Flamengo. Ca. 1425. Gilded silver, enamel, and gemstones. The pieces of the two holy founders of the mendicant Orders, who would play an important role in the care of pilgrims and in Compostela with their respective...
Reliquary bust of Saint Pauline
Santiago de Compostela, Jorge Cedeira the Elder, 1553. Silver, enamels, and gemstones. The Portuguese silversmith Jorge Cedeira the Elder, started in Compostela, where he settled in 1542, a great saga of silversmiths who left their mark on the city and its cathedral....
Reliquary bust of Santa Florina
Santiago de Compostela, Jorge Cedeira the Younger, 1594. Silver, gilded silver and enamels In 1543, the Compostela Archbishop Gaspar de Ávalos accompanied King Charles I on his journey through Italy and Germany to pursue important artistic objects and relics,...
Reliquary of San Clemente
Santiago de Compostela, Attributed to Duarte Cedeira the Younger, 1594. Gilded silver and enamels. The creation of this piece, at the time of Archbishop Juan de Sanclemente, and probably commissioned by one of the silversmiths of the Cedeira family, who was of...
Reliquary of Santa Bárbara
Valladolid, Juan Álvarez after the design by Juan A. García de Bouzas, 1733. Gilded silver and silver The commission of this piece by the Compostela Cabildo is based on the appreciation to Saint Barbara for her intercession in favor of the cathedral after being struck...
Reliquary of Saint Teresa
Madrid, Francisco Pecul, 1804. Gilded silver and silver. Despite the controversy raised in the 17th century between Saint James and Saint Teresa due to the patronage of Spain, there was always an important devotion to this saint in the cathedral. This devotion...
Saint James the Pilgrim
Santiago de Compostela, Ricardo Martínez, 1890. Silver In 1879, an event of special relevance took place for the revival of the Jacobean phenomenon: the rediscovery of the remains of Saint James the Greater, hidden in the cathedral since 1589. Years later, in 1884,...
