Anna Vila Rovira, coordinator of Volume V of the Corpus Vitrearum Catalunya, reports
Fig. 1. Fragment of Saint Mary of Cervera rose window, detail with archangel Gabriel’s head .
The long-anticipated fifth and final volume of the Catalan Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi series consists of two parts: The Stained Glass of La Seu D’Urgell Cathedral and the Collegiate Church of St Mary of Cervera and the substantial Studies on the Art of Stained Glass in Catalonia. Many of the authors who collaborated on previous volumes have taken an active part in this recent volume.
The first part has the format typical of previous Corpus Vitrearum publications, and contains studies relating to glass in Catalonia – the Cathedral of St Mary at La Seu d’Urgell, the Collegiate Church of St Mary at Cervera, the Episcopal Museum at Vic, the Montserrat Museum – as well as elsewhere (the Palace of the Kings of Majorca in Perpignan, France, as well as Worcester Art Museum, USA). Also covered are stained-glass windows represented in paintings, as well as buildings from which stained glass has been lost, such as the cathedral and castle in Lleida, churches and royal palaces in Barcelona, other churches in Catalonia, civic buildings, and private houses.
The second part is a resumé of the studies carried out on the art of stained glass in Catalonia and its international artistic context and relationships. The authors have been able to draw on an abundance of parallels in other media as well as a wealth of documentary evidence.
Fig. 2. Fragment of S II, “Noli me tangere”. Saint Mary (Cervera).
Another important feature of this book is the glossary of artistic and technical terms relating to both medieval and modern stained-glass techniques, designed to be suitable for all readers interested in this technical terminology. There is also an index of medieval glass-painters mentioned in the Catalan CVMA volumes. This fifth volume is the most comprehensive work published on the topic of medieval stained-glass windows in Catalonia, and concludes a long period of investigation and study devoted to this medieval art.
