The Romanesque art of Sant Climent de Taüll

Sant Climent de Taüll is a Romanesque church in Catalonia, Spain, known for its unique blend of Lombard and Byzantine styles. Consecrated on December 10, 1123, the church serves as the largest and most well-preserved structure in the Valley of Boí. Its architecture features a basilica plan with three naves separated by large cylindrical columns made of amalgamated stone. A tall, slim bell tower stands in the south corner, exhibiting Byzantine influence through its verticality and a structure that becomes lighter as it rises by using larger windows near the top.

The interior originally featured polychrome decorations across the walls, apses, and columns. The church is home to famous mural paintings by the Master of Taüll, most notably a four-meter diameter fresco of Christ in Majesty in the central apse. During the early twentieth century, the National Art Museum of Catalonia moved these murals to Barcelona for preservation. This process involved applying horsehide glue, which hardened and was then peeled off, carrying the pigments of the murals with it.

Today, a replica of the central apse fresco remains in the church, while the original is housed in Barcelona. The church also contains a wooden altar frontal created by a native Catalan artist. Its exterior features simple Lombard decorations, including groups of arches and half columns on the apses, constructed from a combination of stone and brick.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons