The church of San Martin at Fuentidueña probably functioned as the chapel for an adjacent castle. The plan, a long nave without projecting transepts or side aisles, is common for small Romanesque churches in Segovia. Also typical of the Romanesque period is the sober thick wall construction, interrupted only by small windows, and the rounded arches. An unusual feature of this apse is the large scale of the figures on piers. Saint Martin, patron of this church, is seen on the left, and the angel Gabriel’s Annunciation to the Virgin is depicted on the right. On a capital above the Annunciation is a scene representing the Nativity. The large capitals supporting the triumphant arch show, on the left, the Adoration of the Magi, and on the right, Daniel in the Lions’ Den. The niches in the wall probably were used in the Mass to hold bread and wine.
#15. Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña / Fuentidueña Chapel
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15. Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña / Fuentidueña Chapel
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Artwork Details
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Title:Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña
Date:ca. 1175–1200
Geography:Made in Segovia, Castile-León, Spain
Culture:Spanish
Medium:Limestone
Dimensions:Apse interior: 30 ft. 2 in. × 24 ft. 7 in. × 27 ft. 8 in. (919.5 × 749.3 × 843.3 cm) b: (lion capital): 14 1/8 × 20 1/4 × 17 1/4 in. (35.9 × 51.4 × 43.8 cm) f: (pier with acrobat): 60 × 12 1/4 × 12 1/2 in. (152.4 × 31.1 × 31.8 cm)
Classification:Sculpture-Architectural
Credit Line:Exchange Loan from the Government of Spain
Object Number:L.58.86a–f
From the church of San Martín at Fuentidueña, near Segovia
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"On Long Loan from Spain: A 12th-Century Apse to be Re-Erected in New York." The Illustrated London News (March 15, 1958). p. 445.
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Freeman, Margaret B. "Rebuilding: A Thumbnail Sketch." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 19, no. 10 (June 1961). pp. 290–96, fig. 1–11.
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"New York's Fragment of Romanesque Spain: A 12th-Century Spanish Apse, Long Derelict, Transported to the New World Stone by Stone." The Illustrated London News (July 1, 1961). pp. 16–17.
"Apse Previewed at the Cloisters: Part of Spanish Medieval Church Reconstructed." New York Times (June 2, 1961). p. 35.
Rorimer, James J. "The Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, n.s., 19, no. 10 (June 1961). pp. 265–267.
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Rorimer, James J. Medieval Monuments at The Cloisters: As They Were and As They Are, edited by Katherine Serrell Rorimer. Revised ed. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1972. pp. 38–44, fig. 41–52.
Pita Andrade, José Manuel, Juan José Martín González, and Ángel Cabo Alonso. Castilla La Vieja: León. Vol. 1. Madrid: Editorial Noguer, S. A., 1975. p. 237.
Golvano Herrero, María de los Ángeles. "Necropolis altomedieval de Fuentidueña (Segovia)." Noticiario Arqueológico Hispánico 5 (1977). pp. 361–65, fig. 1.
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Young, Bonnie. A Walk Through The Cloisters. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1979. pp. 13–16.
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Merino de Cáceres, José Miguel. El monasterio de San Bernardo de Sacramenia. Boletín de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. Madrid: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, 1982. pp. 102–4.
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Simon, David L. "Romanesque Art in American Collections. XXI. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Part I: Spain." Gesta 23, no. 2 (1984). no. 1, pp. 145–49, fig. 1–4.
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In 2023, violinist Johnny Gandelsman realized a longtime dream: performing J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, plus novel arrangements of the composer’s six cello suites, over a weeklong residency at The Met Cloisters.
In 2023, violinist Johnny Gandelsman realized a longtime dream: performing J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, plus novel arrangements of the composer’s six cello suites, over a weeklong residency at The Met Cloisters.
In 2023, violinist Johnny Gandelsman realized a longtime dream: performing J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, plus novel arrangements of the composer’s six cello suites, over a weeklong residency at The Met Cloisters.
In 2023, violinist Johnny Gandelsman realized a longtime dream: performing J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, plus novel arrangements of the composer’s six cello suites, over a weeklong residency at The Met Cloisters.
In 2023, violinist Johnny Gandelsman realized a longtime dream: performing J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, plus novel arrangements of the composer’s six cello suites, over a weeklong residency at The Met Cloisters.
Nancy Wu and Carol Symes discuss their preparations for a new production of The Play of Adam—the oldest medieval drama written in any language—at The Met Cloisters on December 17 and 18.
MetLiveArts Intern Karmen Wolf explores Morton Feldman's mammoth String Quartet No. 2, which the Calder Quartet will perform this fall at The Met Cloisters.
Philippe de Montebello, former Director of The Met, guides viewers through The Cloisters, pointing out Romanesque and Gothic architecture and artwork, beautiful tapestries, and the diverse species in the gardens. He outlines the history of the building and its many influences and highlights significant works of art in the collection.
The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.
