The tapestries of Granada Cathedral

In 1928, the Cathedral of Granada received a collection of Flemish tapestries which, until then, had been owned by the Brotherhood of San Nicolás de Bari in the church of the same name in the Albayzín. Due to the quality of these works, they were deposited in the Cathedral museum, making it of great importance to know the representation and symbolism of the tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada.

Would you like to get the best information about the 7 canvases that make up the tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada? Stay and read this post, we show you everything you need to know below!

Tapestry artists and themes of the tapestries

The authorship of the tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada belongs to Roelants, who developed most of his work in Brussels around the 1660s. We should also mention the cartoonist Jan Boeckhorst, who was noted for his agitated and emphatic Baroque style.

Regarding the subject matter of the tapestries, they represent different moments of the Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great, summarising his work in 7 episodes or scenes.

Tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada

Now that we know who was responsible for the tapestries in the Cathedral of Granada, it is time to take a closer look at each of them. Read on!

Vision of the Cross and the Battle of the Milvian Bridge

The tapestry of the Vision of the Cross reflects the conflicts that took place between Constantine and Maxentius for the control of the imperial west. Thus, it is said that on the eve of the last battle all his legions gazed at a cross in the sky surrounded by the expression: ‘Win with this!

Another tapestry depicts one of the most significant battles between Constantine and Maxentius, fought between the Red Crags and the Milvian Bridge. Constantine's soldiers gained the upper hand over their opponents and Maxentius was found drowned in the Tiber, fulfilling the vision of the cross of Constantine's victory.

Triumphal Entry into Rome and the Edict of Milan

One day after the battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine triumphantly entered Rome, establishing himself as the legitimate successor to the tetrarchy. The tapestry depicting this event is the largest in the series.

In 313, Licinius and Constantine established a peaceful government in the Empire and extended religious freedom throughout the territory, publishing an edict that put an end to the persecution of Christians.

Marriage of Licinius and Constans

The union between Constantine and Licinius took place because of their desire to put an end to Maximin II Daya. In addition, to further seal their pacts, they arranged a marriage between Licinius and Constance, Constantine's sister.

However, after the suicide of Maximian II Daya and the victory of Licinius in their confrontations, the empire was divided into two great blocks, generating tensions between Constantine and Licinius, which led to their rivalry and the beginning of a war whose triumph corresponded to Constantine.

The tapestry depicting this period of Constantine's rule is one of the longest and is bordered by a double border.

The banning of Constantine's image in temples

The Christian orientation of Constantine's rule became quite radical when the unification of the Empire took place, with the suspension of the celebration of sacrifices on imperial anniversaries, the general disentailment of pagan shrines and even the removal of his own image from temples considered to be infidels.

This tapestry is the best preserved and attracts the attention of users due to the rarity of its iconography.

In praise of Constantine's good government

Finally, in order to know all the tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada, we could not forget to mention the one referring to the praise for the good government of Constantine.

The last tapestry concludes the story of this emperor, showing the praise received for the correct performance of his duties. It corresponds to an elongated tapestry and, for its composition, part of the cardboard of the tapestry of ‘The Triumphal Entry of Constantine into Rome’ was used.

Why visit Granada Cathedral?

As you have seen throughout this article about the tapestries of the Cathedral of Granada, in its interior we can find numerous works of art, making this cathedral an essential place to visit if you travel to the city of Granada.

If you would like to visit this monument, do not hesitate to buy the tickets to the Cathedral of Granada on the official website of the Archdiocese of Granada. Enjoy the beauty of this temple and admire its splendour!