Altar Predella and Socle of Archbishop Don Dalmau de Mur y Cervelló

Art Historical Context

This alabaster predella and socle, created by the Spanish sculptor Francí Gomar around 1456–1458, once the base of an altar dedicated to Archbishop Don Dalmau de Mur y Cervelló. Measuring just over two and a half feet wide, the piece exemplifies the refined stone carving traditions of mid-fifteenth-century Spain, where alabaster’s soft, luminous quality allowed artists to achieve intricate details suited to sacred spaces. As part of a larger altarpiece, this work would have supported scenes or figures above it, guiding worshippers’ attention during religious ceremonies. Its presence in The Cl...