Altar Predella and Socle of Archbishop Don Dalmau de Mur y Cervelló 1453 - 1461

Francí Gomar made this limestone altar predella, the base of an altarpiece, for Archbishop Dalmau de Mur y Cervelló, sometime before 1493. This piece exemplifies the intersection of religious devotion and social hierarchy in late 15th-century Spain. Note the Archbishop’s coat of arms displayed prominently, a visual assertion of his power and lineage within the ecclesiastical structure. The Gothic architectural details reflect the prevailing artistic tastes and the Church's dominant influence on cultural production. How does this altar base reinforce existing social structures? Commissioning such a piece was a way for the Archbishop to display his status. The choice of Gomar as the artist connects the Archbishop to local artistic institutions, acting as a patron, shaping the artistic output of his community. To fully understand works such as this, we turn to archival records, exploring the biographies of patrons and artists, and delving into the social and economic conditions that gave rise to their creation. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.