Late Romanesque Sculpture in the Kingdoms of Leon and Castile: Continuity or Change?

Abstract

The ‘Old Cathedral’ at Salamanca survives as a flagship of late Romanesque in the kingdom of Leon. The following article considers its architectural sculpture, executed between 1152 and 1230, and reflects on the factors that defined the material culture of the period. In particular, it will focus on the coexistence of established workshops, models and recognized plans on the one hand, and the novel dispositions of the sculpture on the other. Such coexistence might seem contradictory, but it is widespread in a period more generally characterised by a tension between continuity and innovation. This can be seen at other Spanish cathedrals, most notably Santiago de Compostela.