Huesca thematic

Number 38. May of 2001. Spanish language  Principal menu

The Bolea Collegial Church in Huesca (Spain)

     Bolea is toponymy of origin Iberian, it was the last Muslim domain located to the north of the city of Huesca, definitively conquered, after successive intents, for the king Pedro I of Aragon in 1101.
     The temple was Priorate of the Real Abbey of Montearagón, privilege that maintained up to 1571, date in that passed to be part of the Diocese of Huesca, being erected in Collegial Church in the year 1577.
     Of its Arab castle they are remains in the turret, in its basement and in its walls. The Collegial Church (Colegiata) conserves the original foundation of the previous romanian temple of the XII century. Built between 1535 and 1556 for the architect Baltasar of Barazábal, the temple is situated in the transition from the Gothic to the Rebirth. It consists of living room plant with three naves of the same height. There are Arches of half point in central nave; and pointed in the lateral naves.
     As symbiosis of the architectural tipology of the Aragonese " Hallenkírchen ", it presents the three types of used supports: fascicled in the central nave, cylindrical to both sides of the Presbytery and rung inside the choir. It has vaults of starry intersecting ribs with fifteen different motives.
    The biggest Altarpiece was realized between 1490 and 1503 and it constitutes a splendid combination of 20 paintings The biggest Altarpiece to the tempera on table and 57 polychromed wood carving. The appearance is Gothic, following the habitual models of the epoch. The carves work was carried out by Gil of Brabante, sculptor of flamenco origin that had his shop in Huesca. But the truly exceptional of this altarpiece constitutes the wonderful paintings carried out by The Teacher of Bolea, anonymous painter that, in a epoch still Gothic in Spain, introduces stylistic features in those that unite two currents: to) Flemish, for the correct resolution of the space concept and the feeling appearance in the expression of the characters; and b) The Italian, coming of the Quattrocento that shows us in an innovative way in Spain, the perfect use of the perspective, illumination and shady.
     The exceptional coloring, completely original, stands out highlighting the wide range of red and green tones. The Bolea's Teacher style is linked with the work of Juan of Borgońa, belonging to the Castilian school.
     The Altarpiece of San Sebastián was carried out in 1503. The structure and the wood carving are works of Gil of Brabante, of flamenco influence. The seven tables of the predella were painted by Pedro of Aponte and Pedro of Dezpiota.
     Santiago's Altarpiece is attributed Damián Forment (1530). Sculpture of polychromed alabaster. It consists of a bank with the scenes of the Epifhany, Descent and Birth. It has body of three streets with San Miguel's sculptures, Santiago and Saint John the Baptist. In the lateral ones, there are two lockets with the figures of the prophet Isaías and of the king David.
     The five remaining altarpieces, of profuse decoration, belong to the Baroque time (XVII-XVIII centuries). For their singularity, those of San Vicente and Santa Bárbara highlight, carved in wood of red pine, which were left without polychromating.
     The Choir is sober and elegant (1540), in walnut wood. Interesting they are the volutes of the seats, carved with alchemy symbols , the rose of Ripley, the harmony, etc. Lectern with hand Psalters written in parchment of the XVII century.
     The organ, of principles of the XVII century, consists of 28 registers, 420 metallic tubes and a keyboard.
     The Collegial Church of Bolea, was declared Artistic Historical Monument in February, 23 of 1983. It forms part of the Artistic Patrimony of the Diocese of Huesca and its maintenance, tutelage and dfifusión runs in charge of the Association of Friends of the Colegiata of Bolea (Spain), created by popular initiative in the year 1991

* Gathered by Manuel Tomé Bosqued.


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