Custodia de Arfe (Arfe monstrance) by by Enrique de Arfe, 1518
Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
(Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba)
Calle Cardenal Herrero
Córdoba, September 2022
“The ‘custodia de Arfe’ (Arfe monstrance) is the processional monstrance of the Cathedral of Córdoba, carved by Enrique de Arfe between 1514 and 1518. Its base was made by the Cordoban Bernabé García de los Reyes between 1734 and 1735. Its function is to process the consecrated host which, according to the Catholic faith, is the body of Christ on the feast of Corpus Christi, an annual celebration. Bishop Martín Fernández de Angulo commissioned Enrique de Arfe, a goldsmith of Germanic origin, to create the Corpus Christi monstrance. Arfe had already built one in León and was already working on the one in Toledo. He began work on it around 1512, with the prelate leaving 500 ducats in his will for its completion. Archdeacon Francisco de Simancas also contributed 100 marks. The exquisitely finished work was premiered on June 3, 1518 under the pontificate of Cardinal Alonso Manrique, the year in which it was carried in procession for the first time. It is fair to point out that it was not only Arfe who made this magnificent jewel, but that he was assisted in its making by several Cordoban silversmiths (among them Juan Ruiz el Vandalino) who, trained by the German master, perfected their art and were thus able to replace him on his frequent trips to Toledo, where he was also sculpting the monstrance for that capital.” (Custodia procesional de la Mezquita-catedral de Córdoba, Wikipedia)
No comments:
Post a Comment