The MNAC

       The MNAC( Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya) sits on top of Montjuic, in Placa Espanya. From the balcony at the front entrance, is a fantastic view of the city. The plaza is a mere strip, and the apartments in the area look like multicolored shoe boxes. The MNAC contains Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaixament art.

Romanesque art.

Circle of the master of Pedret, The apostles of Ager, Thaddeus and James
End of 11th century to the beginning of the 12th
Fresco transfered to canvas

                                      Even though there  are holes in this fresco it is amazing how much of it is still intact. These holy figures are clearly defined by the spheres of light behind their heads.

Circle of the Master of Pedret, Apse of El Burgal,
End of 11th century, beginning of 12th.
Fresco transferred to canvas

                                                                         Gothic Art

                        Virgin, Second half of the 14th century. Carved alabaster,
with the remains of polychrome and gold leaf

                                          Even though Christ is depicted as a child his face has an older composure. The Virgin has her traditional look of sadness, as she sees her son's ultimate fate. With Gothic Art, the artist focuses on giving images a more natural look, the Virgin's garment is carved so it looks like it is draped in delicate folds.

Descent of Christ into limbo,
Bartolome Bermejo, Cordoba.
Oil and gilding on wood, c. 1475

                                              In this painting, the artist echos techniques used during the Romanesque period. Many if the figures have those same almond shaped eyes, and all the old men have similar expressions. Each figure has a bloated stomach as well.

Factitious group with the deposition of Christ and the road to cavalry,
 Anonomous, made in Germany
Wood carving with polychrome gold leaf

While the artist uses similar styles to depict each person, they each have an individual expression or gesture. It is amazing how the artist was able to carve each nose and finger to from a vessel of grief for this moment.

                                                                           Modern Art

 Lucretia,
Damía Campeny
Rome, 1803
Cast bronze.

There are many different versions of the woeful story of Lucretia. One version, describes how the princes Titus, Aruns Brutus, Sextus and Tarquin of Collotia  were feasting, discussing who had the worthiest wife. The went to Rome to spy on their wives and see what they were doing. Three of them enjoying a meal with friends or cheating on the husbands. The third, Lucretia was still mourning the abcsense of her husband, Tarquin. Sextus, jealous of his cousin's pure wife, returned a few days later. He  took advantage of Lucretia's gracious hospitality and forced himself on her. Lucretia was  devestated by her impurity. When her husband arrived, she told him what Sextus had done and demanded they seek revenge. But she felt extreme guilt herself and claimed her own life, saying "I too must share in the punishment of this deed, lest any should think that they may be false to their husbands and live."

I find it interesting that even though Sextus's assault on Lucretia is clearly not her fault, she still feels guilty. During this time period, cheating on your husband was a severe crime, one that it seems was often followed by a death sentence. This story and sculpture is a reflection of the ideals upheld during this time, in regards to how women should behave. Some versions of the story say that the other wives were not necessarily cheating on their husbands. They were not sitting in the dark working on a garment and so they were not considered to be faithful wives.