FUNDACIÓN COLEGIO Nª Sª DE LA ANTIGUA.

A few days ago our website published some images and a simple explanation of the third body of the altarpiece by D. Francisco de Moure. Today we approach the second body. This is made up of two panels with scenes from the life of the Virgin and a magnificent central image, a free interpretation in bulk of the painting by Nª Sª de la Antigua that belonged to Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro and that by his will was transferred from his personal chapel in Seville to Monforte de Lemos.

LEFT TABLE: This is the scene of the Visitation Maria finds her cousin Isabel of her at the entrance of her house, on the access stairs. At the door of the house Zacarías, Isabel’s husband observes the scene. Five other characters surround both women, two behind María, another two peering through a window and one more in dialogue with Zacarías. The execution of this panel does not respond to the quality of the layouts of D. Francisco de Moure, and it may be one of the tables made by his son.

RIGHT TABLE: Represents the Adoration of the Shepherds. Complicated composition in which, before a child Jesus on the straws, receives the adoration of the shepherds, group on the left, before the gaze of the parents of the group on the right. Over the image of Maria, an undoubtedly Galician shepherd blows a bagpipe with all his might, putting a musical background to such a silent composition. An old woman on the left lifts a wineskin, undoubtedly full of Ribeira Sacra wine. Angels in the sky and the heads of the ox and the mule on the child complete the composition.

IMAGE OF Nª Sª DE LA ANTIGUA: Impressive is the sculptural ensemble that makes up the most central scene in the altarpiece. All framed by Renaissance architectures. Mary in the center, two musician angels at her feet, another two hold a crown on the head of Our Lady who holds the baby Jesus in her left arm and entertains him with a rose that she presents with her right hand, as in picture. Wide garments that already smell like a consolidated baroque dress Maria

We illustrate this simple comment with photos of this body of the altarpiece.

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In the altarpiece of the church of the College of the Piarists, we find on the bench or predella some female sculptures of exquisite beauty and delicate carving. It’s about the virtues. Walnut carvings, with a baroque attire and displaying a happy virtuosity especially in the work of the suits, headdresses and hairstyles. As an example, here are some examples that illustrate what has been said very effectively.

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The third body of the altarpiece of the Colegio de Nª Sª de la Antigua de Monforte de Lemos, is made up of two panels located in the left and right streets and a sculpture of San Ignacio de Loyola.

The entire altarpiece is dedicated to the Virgin and Our Lady always appears on each of its panels, although in a different way. In the street on the left, a nice table shows us the birth of the Virgin Mary, Santa Ana in bed and San Joaquín taking care of his wife. A fire warms the room, guarded by two andirons and at the foot of the fire, undoubtedly the food in some clay pots. Other characters at the foot of the bed, a nurse who takes care of the newborn duly swaddled, as was customary, an angel, perhaps a doctor with his medicine cup….

This piece was possibly not finished by D. Francisco Moure, but by his son.

The street on the right shows us the scene of the annunciation, in which the angel Gabriel announces to Mary the plans of God and the birth of her son who will be “God with us.”

This body is completed, in its central part an image of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, of which there is evidence that it came from the hands of Francisco de Moure.

These days the bidding process for some works that mainly involve an intervention in the vault of the presbytery of the Church of Nª Sª de la Antigua is ending. The aim is to secure one of the stones that make up this vault, which has been visibly lowered since the Lisbon earthquake, which occurred on November 1, 1755. 

This earthquake also produced a movement in the final arch behind the altarpiece where another stone, the keystone of said arch, must be restored. 

The intervention will also affect the passage between the two cloisters that will be remodeled. 

Jean Boulogne (Douai, 1529 – Florence 1608), known in Italy as Giovanni da Bologna or Giambologna for short, and in Spain as Juan de Bolonia, was a Flemish sculptor who worked in Italy at the end of the Renaissance.

He was the author of several of the most famous sculptures, in marble and bronze, on mythological themes. He also occupies a key position in the history of European sculpture, as a bridge between Michelangelo’s Renaissance and Bernini’s Baroque.

At the Colegio de Nª Sª de la Antigua we have one of his most magnificent works. It is the praying statue of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, funerary bronze. In Spain there are only two works by Juan de Bolonia, one ours, the other the equestrian statue of Felipe III, well known and located in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid

At the end of last year, a magnificent model of the school building was donated by the family of Mr. José Luis Iglesias Fernández, a former student of our school. This model does not respond to the reality of the building, but to the initial project of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro, that is, a building with four cloisters.

This model is dated by a plaque between 1990 and 1991, years between which José Luis Iglesias carried out this precious work that measures 1 meter in width, weighs around fifty kilos and responds to a ratio of 1/100.

FCNSdlA sincerely appreciates the gesture of the author’s family. After the previous preventive disinsection treatment, it will be placed in a suitable place to be contemplated by those who visit us seeking to learn more about the legacy of Cardinal Rodrigo de Castro.

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The Fundación Colegio Nª Sª de la Antigua wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, to all the friends and collaborators of our educational and cultural work

It is not usually normal to have more than one or two names, but according to historical documentation, normally written in Spanish, the school appears named in many ways, perhaps accusing the history and the various situations through which it has lived.

1. The most common and original name has been “Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua” or in Galician é “Colexio de Nosa Señora da Antiga”.
2. Other names with which it is cited are:
   • Colexio do Cardeal,
   • Colexio de Monforte,
   • Colexio da Compañía.
   • Popularly it is also known as the College of the Piarist Fathers,
   • San José de Calasanz School,
   • The Piarists
   • The Company.

The cause of so many names is due to the circumstances of its history, such as the will of its founder, the Cardinal of Seville, Don Rodrigo de Castro, his first stage in the hands of the PP. Jesuits, its fame that defines it as the Monforte school, as if it were the only one in the city. At present it is under the ownership of the PP. Piarists.

Last Monday, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Román Rodríguez González visited last Monday, July 6, being able to verify the magnificent result of the new lighting of the gallery, which has been largely subsidized by his Ministry, specifically by the corresponding Tourism office, which together with INEGA and FCNSdlA itself have contributed to the implementation of this improvement.

New projects of restoration of works of art and maintenance of the monumental area are requiring new funds. We invite you to participate by collaborating with the Foundation in two ways

A) With specific collaboration

B) With an annual subscription

Your donation is tax deductible, we will send you a certificate.