Spanish Translation of Saint Augustine's "City of God"
1446–82
Medium
Tempera and gold on parchment, tooled leather binding
Dimensions
15 1/2 x 11 1/4 x 3 in. (39.4 x 28.6 x 7.6 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
Spanish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
X.430.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the luminous world of late medieval Spain with this exquisite Spanish translation of Saint Augustine'sCity of God*, crafted the scribe Cano de Aranda between1446 and 1482. This monumental theological text, originally written in the 5th century, contrasts the earthly city with the divine, offering profound reflections on faith, history, and salvation. Translated into the vernacular for a Spanish audience, it reflects the era's growing accessibility of sacred knowledge amid the Reconquista's cultural fervor. Rendered in tempera and gold on fine parchment, the manuscript showcases the ...
About the Artist
Cano de Aranda
Spanish, active Toledo