Largest Relief Carving in the World?

[pallin]

I just visited the Cathedral of Seville, Spain, where the altarpiece in the main chancel is reported to be "the largest surface area of polychrome wood in existence." It is 60 feet wide and 91 feet tall, consisting of 44 deep relief panels separated by pilasters with 189 sculpted figures. It was carved over a period of 100 years by a series of master designers and carvers. The basic part was completed in 1526 and the side additions included 25 years later. The wood is walnut, chestnut, and laburnum. The laburnum in interesting because it is very dark, poisonous, and hard, sometimes called "false ebony." Unfortunate for us woodcarvers, much of it is covered with gold, silver or colors. It was restored in 1979 due to the damage of time and wood-boring insects. There is also an organ there, about the same height, a fantastic carving in walnut - extremely ornate.

[Ashbys]

Lucky !

Are photos allowed ? Did you take Any ?

Sound like it is really something to see !

I will do a web search when I have more time .

Thanks !

[pallin]

Photos are permitted, but it is very difficult to do because there is an ornate metal screen (grille) enclosing the chancel. It is open where the steps lead up into the chancel, but at that point one is too close to take in the huge altarpiece. Even the books for tourists only show some representative panels. I have tried to take photos of these things with limited results. Even standing there one can only examine a few of the many panels. It is amazing.

On a different subject: Why was this thread taken down from the New s within hours of posting?

[Ashbys]

I didn't know it was . Unless the 27 max limit was met. Then they fall out of the new post. So if 28 post were added after the post it would drop from new post.

Ash

[doris]

wow, i found a pic Image:Pierre Dancart Alterpiece Seville.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and i wish i can see this in real sometime. thanks pallin for letting us knoww (if you click the link under the image you get better resolution, still not good, but gives a glimpse on what it might be...)

[pallin]

Thanks, Doris, for giving the link to Wikopedia. The photo will give other carvers at least a glimpse of this amazing work. The booklet sold at the cathedral states that Pyeter Dancart, a Flemish artist, was responsible for the basic design and initial work, but he died in 1488. The project was carried forward by Marco Pedro Millan, Jorge & Alejo Fernandez, Roque de Balduque, and Juan Bautista Vazquez (the Elder). I wonder what kind of tools they had to work with, and if they got hung up on sharpening techniques.

[BobD]

Fascinating Phil! Thanks for sharing.

As for the New Posts...that is really based on the cookies on your computer...it's new posts for each user. Since you posted it, checked it out, and there was no new action, it dropped out of new posts for you. That's why it was still a new post for Garry.

Bob

[doris]

yes, that is an interesting question... some info in this direction i have is, there is a woodcut from 1533 (a german one) called "the unfinsihed man", and that shows a woodcarver carving a statue, and at his feet are lying his tools, some axes, a gouge, slightly backbent, a skew chisel, a plane, and some i cant identify... in the text it say spookshave were known though not shown in that image... so, that is germany, a tad bit later, but i imagine in spain it was about same... and, i bet, they were brilliant at sharpening, since they never get the chance to use a lazy machine ;-) ...

[pallin]

Interesting information! I think a spokeshave or a draw knife would be used a lot in wood sculpture. I'll bet there are many museums with items from everyday life (as opposed to fine art) that would shed more light on this. The hand tools we see today are likely just refinements of those used 500 years ago.

[K Karver]

Thanks for the picture connect Doris. You are right, it would be grand to see it in person. Must have been something something to see. Thanks for the post.

John K Karver

Originally Posted by doris

wow, i found a pic Image:Pierre Dancart Alterpiece Seville.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and i wish i can see this in real sometime. thanks pallin for letting us knoww (if you click the link under the image you get better resolution, still not good, but gives a glimpse on what it might be...)