A New Set of Polyptych Doors from Fourteenth-century Castile

Scholarly focus on altarpieces and frontals from medieval Castile has long struggled to advance due to the few examples of this principal altar furnishing that survive from this Iberian kingdom. This study will lay out the first steps for remedying this imbalance by providing a comprehensive overview of the surviving corpus of altarpieces and frontals and by drawing particular attention to a newly discovered set of panels now held in a private collection. These panels once comprised a closable polpytch and display images from the life of the Virgin and Christ in addition to a solitary image of Saint Catherine. It is for this reason that the work is hereto referred to as the Saint Catherine panels or polyptych. The format and iconographic programme of the panels share many striking similarities with other surviving panels. And yet, subtle differences between the figural styles, modelling of robes and layout of compositions suggest that it was made by a one of many artists working in a regional style. Indeed, the various panels of the corpus likewise share overarching similarities while also displaying small idiosyncrasies. As part of this group, the Saint Catherine panels introduces important material evidence that helps us to better understand the production of altarpieces and frontals in fourteenth century Castile. By extension, the works helps to establish the importance of Castilian works in current discussions over the development and function of altarpieces across medieval Europe.