Felipe Bigarny
Encyclopedia
Felipe Bigarny also known as Felipe Vigarny, Felipe Biguerny or Felipe de Borgoña, etc. and sometimes referred to as el Borgoñón (the Burgundian), was a sculptor born in Burgundy but who made his career in Spain and was one of the leading sculptors of the Spanish Renaissance
. He was also an architect.
His work shows Flemish
, Burgundian, and Italian Renaissance
influences. He gained a great prestige working in various parts of Spain which led to becoming the master sculptor and carver of the Burgos Cathedral
. He also played a role in many important works for the Crown of Castile
, which led to him simultaneously operating several studios, and becoming quite wealthy.
, Burgundy around 1475, Bigarny arrived in Italy as a youth and appears to had studied in Rome. As a result, Italian Renaissance influences can be found even in his early Gothic work.
, staying on in Burgos. There he executed the technically precise reliefs of the main retrochoir of the cathedral, which led to further contracts and a lifelong career in Spain. He would end up working in every sculptural genre of the time, executing both sculptures and decoration, and working in both stone and wood.
In 1499 Bigarny designed the basic structure of the main altarpiece of the Toledo Cathedral, for which he was contracted by Cardinal Archbishop Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros. He also prepared a figure of Saint Mark the Evangelist
and agreed to sculpt several reliefs for the altarpiece, which he did between that time and 1504. In those same years, he also made sculptures of Saints Augustine, Barbara
, Gregory, Jerome
, John the Baptist
and of the Assumption for the altarpiece of the University of Salamanca
. He next began plans for the chapel of the Sanctuary of the Palencia Cathedral
, making it clear that although most of the work would be done by others in his studio, he personally would sculpt the faces and hands. On 12 December 1506, Bigarny delivered 17 sculptures (among them a polychrome
d Saint Antoninus of Pamiers
, the titular saint of the cathedral) and on 19 October 1509 he delivered the remaining nine figures. These were brought together on the main altarpiece of that cathedral. In 1509 he returned to Burgos to work with Andrés de Nájera on the choir stalls of the Burgos Cathedral, a project completed in 1512. The panels of the top row of side chairs are attributed to him and his workshop.
In 1513 he designed the baldachin
of the tomb of Dominic de la Calzada
for the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
(in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
, La Rioja
, Spain); his design was executed by Juan de Rasines.
In 1516 he began work on the main entrance and main altarpiece of the Church of Saint Thomas in Haro, La Rioja
, completed in 1519. That year he also lived for a time in Casalarreina
, La Rioja, where he may have collaborated in the construction of the La Piedad Monastery, although there is no documentary evidence for this.
In this same period he executed a profile relief of Cardenal Cisneros, which can now be seen in the Complutense University of Madrid
. There is also documentary evidence of a similar relief of Antonio de Nebrija
.
Bigarny married María Sáez Pardo, a widow with sons who had emigrated to the Americas; they had five further children. The first of these, Gregorio Pardo, born 1517, was the only one to follow in his father's career, collaborating with him toward the end of his life and continuing Bigarny's studio in the Archdiocese of Toledo. His influence extended to much sculpture in Burgos and throughout Castile in the first third of the 16th century and were even stronger at mid-century, until the rise of Romanism.
In 1519 he collaborated with Alonso Berruguete
on the tomb of Cardinal Juan Selvagio in Zaragoza
; the pair probably continued a collaboration on the Royal Chapel of Granada
, which Bigarny appears to have helped design in 1521, but where he was not actively involved in the construction.
) of the Burgos Cathedral. In that same chapel, between 1523 and 1526 they created, for the main altarpiece, the figures of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
, considered one of the most beautiful works of the Spanish Renaissance. No later than 1534, Bigarny has also executed the recumbent sculptures in the chapel of Pedro Fernández de Velasco, 2nd Count of Haro and his wife.
Aware of his fame and respect in the city, Bigarny took permanent residence in Burgos, first in a building in the San Juan neighborhood and then in a distinguished house next to the Casa de la Moneda. In 1524 he contracted for the tomb of the canon
Gonzalo Díez de Lerma, also in the Burgos Cathedral, in the Capilla de la Presentación ("Chapel of the Presentation"). This very expressive sculpture shows influences from Diego de Siloé.
Although there is no documentary evidence, he is believed in these years to have completed the altarpiece of Santiago de la Puebla
(province of Salamanca) and the sculptures of the Virgen de la Silla (the Virgin Mary with the Christ child and the young John the Baptist
) and the Virgin and Child for the Church of the Assumption in El Barco de Ávila
. This last, pictured at the start of this article, is now in the National Sculpture Museum
in Valladolid
. Artistic similarities also suggest that the tomb of canon Diego Bilbao and an altarpiece in the parish of Cardeñuela Riopico
are also by Bigarny.
In 1526 the book Medidas del Romano by Diego de Sagredo, one of the first Spanish-language books on architecture, praised Bigarny's sculpture, leading to commissions from various parts of Spain.
In 1527 he completed the altarpiece of the Descent or of the Pillar in the Toledo Cathedral, which he had probably begun in 1520. This work is also much influenced by Siloé, although soon thereafter their working relationship came to an end over differences about a contract to construct the tower of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Santa María del Campo
, which resulted in a successful lawsuit by Siloé against Bigarny.
in Valladolid (now the site of the National Museum of Sculpture). This tomb was much praised at the time, but is considered in retrospect not to be among his better work. In 1534 he sculpted the tomb of Pedro Manso, bishop of Osma, for the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña.
His wife María died, and he remarried in 1535 to Francisca Velasco.
In 1535 the chapter of the Toledo Cathedral solicited designs for the choir stall of the Cathedral from Bigarny, as well as from Diego de Siloe, Juan Picardo, and Alonso Berruguete. They ultimately contracted on 1 January 1539 with Bigarny and Berruguete to create thirty choir stalls each. Bigarny created those along the side of the Evangelist, and also on the Archbishop's side.
In 1536 he signed a contract that within the next two years he would produce two tombs, one for Diego de Avellaneda, Bishop of Tuy (in the Monastery of Saint Jerome in Espeja (province of Soria) and the other for his father (now conserved in Alcalá de Henares
). However, in 1539 these had still not been built, because he had taken on other projects. These figures in the round were subcontracted to Enrique de Maestrique. They would be among the works left incomplete at the time of his death, and were finished by Juan de Gómez. The tom of Diego de Avellaneda was bought by the Spanish state in 1932 for the National Sculpture Museum.
In 1541 he contracted to produce an altarpiece for the Hospital of Santa Cruz in Toledo (now a museum), but it was never executed. He died in 1542 leaving behind projected or incomplete works in Toledo (where Berruguete followed through his work), Peñaranda de Duero
, Valpuesta, and Burgos. He had studios set up in each of these places, each of which had trusted delegates who were in charge in his absence. Among these were Maese Enrique, Sebastián de Salinas, Juan de Goyaz, his son Gregorio Pardo, and most importantly Diego Guillén, who was married to one of Bigarny's sisters-in-law.
Bagarny's first work in Burgos was a vast relief for the cathedral chapter, representing the Road to Calvary
, which was used to decorate the central wall panel of the retrochoir of the Burgos Cathedral. He began this work in 1498 and finished in March 1499, meeting the deadline for which he had contracted, and receiving 200 ducat
s per the contract, plus another 30 ducats out of appreciation for the excellence of his work. The work had a great impact because it went beyond the Late Gothic style, and included the first example in Spain of Renaissance ornamentation in the pilasters of the gate of Jerusalem, which included classical motifs alluding to the labors of Hercules. This led to further commissions for sculptures in Burgos.
The chapter next commissioned two high reliefs for two other panels of the retrochoir. The first represented the Crucifixion
; the second the Descent from the Cross
and the Resurrection of Jesus
. Both were completed in 1503.
The three reliefs show Bigarny's early style, largely influenced by the Late Gothic style of Northern Europe. The figures are of noble bearing, the attitudes and gestures are dramatic, the expression forceful and moving. There were also Renaissance elements such as movement and the diagonal composition of the first panel. The poor quality of the stone for the sculptures of the Burgos Cathedral has resulted in grave damage over the years, though more in the Apostles executed by Simón de Colonia
and his studio than in Bigarny's work.
Together with Diego de Siloé, Bigarny constructed the altarpiece of the Chapel of the Constables of Castile. The recumbent sculptures of Constable Pedro Fernández de Velasco and his wife Mencía de Mendoza y Figueroa are sculpted from Carrara marble.
Along with Andrés de Nájera and possibly Guillén de Holanda, Bigarny designed and executed the reliefs for the choir stalls of the Burgos Cathedral (1505-1512), using motifs from the Old and New Testaments and the lives of Christian saints. Bigarny designed and executed the alabaster
tomb of the canon Gonzalo de Lerma in the Chapel of the Presentation (1524).
and it is known that he resided in Casalarreina in 1519 there is no documentary evidence that he or his carver Matías, worked on that church. José Martí y Monsó in a study on the art and acrchitecture of Haro and Casalarreina argued against the likelihood of Bigarny or his studio having worked on the monastery, and present-day specialists generally agree with that verdict.
, but it was not the one selected.
Spanish Renaissance
The Spanish Renaissance refers to a movement in Spain, emerging from the Italian Renaissance in Italy during the 14th century, that spread to Spain during the 15th and 16th centuries...
. He was also an architect.
His work shows Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Burgundian, and Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
influences. He gained a great prestige working in various parts of Spain which led to becoming the master sculptor and carver of the Burgos Cathedral
Burgos Cathedral
The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral in Burgos, Spain. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is famous for its vast size and unique architecture. Its construction began in 1221, and was in use nine years later, although work continued on and off for two hundred years...
. He also played a role in many important works for the Crown of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
, which led to him simultaneously operating several studios, and becoming quite wealthy.
Youth
Born in LangresLangres
Langres is a commune in north-eastern France. It is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne département in the Champagne-Ardenne region.-History:As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.The town is built on a limestone...
, Burgundy around 1475, Bigarny arrived in Italy as a youth and appears to had studied in Rome. As a result, Italian Renaissance influences can be found even in his early Gothic work.
Life in Spain
In 1498, at about the age of 23, he traveled the pilgrim route to SantiagoWay of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
, staying on in Burgos. There he executed the technically precise reliefs of the main retrochoir of the cathedral, which led to further contracts and a lifelong career in Spain. He would end up working in every sculptural genre of the time, executing both sculptures and decoration, and working in both stone and wood.
Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
and agreed to sculpt several reliefs for the altarpiece, which he did between that time and 1504. In those same years, he also made sculptures of Saints Augustine, Barbara
Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara, , Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr....
, Gregory, Jerome
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is a Christian church father, best known for translating the Bible into Latin.Saint Jerome may also refer to:*Jerome of Pavia , Bishop of Pavia...
, John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
and of the Assumption for the altarpiece of the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
. He next began plans for the chapel of the Sanctuary of the Palencia Cathedral
Palencia Cathedral
Palencia Cathedral is situated in Palencia, Spain. It is dedicated to Saint Antoninus of Pamiers ....
, making it clear that although most of the work would be done by others in his studio, he personally would sculpt the faces and hands. On 12 December 1506, Bigarny delivered 17 sculptures (among them a polychrome
Polychrome
Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
d Saint Antoninus of Pamiers
Antoninus of Pamiers
Saint Antoninus of Pamiers was an early Christian missionary and martyr, called the "Apostle of the Rouergue". His life is dated to the first, second, fourth, and fifth century by various sources, since he often confused with various other venerated Antonini. Today he is revered as the patron...
, the titular saint of the cathedral) and on 19 October 1509 he delivered the remaining nine figures. These were brought together on the main altarpiece of that cathedral. In 1509 he returned to Burgos to work with Andrés de Nájera on the choir stalls of the Burgos Cathedral, a project completed in 1512. The panels of the top row of side chairs are attributed to him and his workshop.
In 1513 he designed the baldachin
Baldachin
A baldachin, or baldaquin , is a canopy of state over an altar or throne. It had its beginnings as a cloth canopy, but in other cases it is a sturdy, permanent architectural feature, particularly over high altars in cathedrals, where such a structure is more correctly called a ciborium when it is...
of the tomb of Dominic de la Calzada
Dominic de la Calzada
Saint Dominic de la Calzada was a saint from a cottage in Burgos very close to La Rioja. Born Domingo García in Viloria de Rioja, he was the son of a peasant named Ximeno García. His mother was named Orodulce.He repeatedly tried to join the Benedictine order at Valvanera and San Millán de la...
for the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Not to be confused with the Cathedral of Santo Domingo , in Peru.The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada is located in the village of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in La Rioja, Spain. It is dedicated to the 12th century Saint Dominic de la Calzada...
(in Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Santo Domingo de la Calzada is a municipality in La Rioja, Spain, situated on the banks of the Oja River. Its name refers to its founder, Dominic de la Calzada, who built a bridge, hospital, and hotel here for pilgrims on the Way of St. James. The town's Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada...
, La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
, Spain); his design was executed by Juan de Rasines.
In 1516 he began work on the main entrance and main altarpiece of the Church of Saint Thomas in Haro, La Rioja
Haro, La Rioja
Haro is a town and municipality in the northwest of La Rioja province in northern Spain. It is known for its fine red wine and every year the Haro Wine Festival is held where locals hold a wine battle....
, completed in 1519. That year he also lived for a time in Casalarreina
Casalarreina
Casalarreina is a town located in the province of La Rioja, Spain. It is located 47 kilometers from Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, in the north-west.The first documents about the village was around 1170 by Aldonza Ruiz de Castro....
, La Rioja, where he may have collaborated in the construction of the La Piedad Monastery, although there is no documentary evidence for this.
In this same period he executed a profile relief of Cardenal Cisneros, which can now be seen in the Complutense University of Madrid
Complutense University of Madrid
The Complutense University of Madrid is a university in Madrid, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is located on a sprawling campus that occupies the entirety of the Ciudad Universitaria district of Madrid, with annexes in the district of Somosaguas in the neighboring city of...
. There is also documentary evidence of a similar relief of Antonio de Nebrija
Antonio de Nebrija
Antonio de Lebrija , also known as Antonio de Nebrija, Elio Antonio de Lebrija, Antonius Nebrissensis, and Antonio of Lebrixa, was a Spanish scholar, known for writing a grammar of the Castilian language, credited as one of the first published grammars of a Romance language...
.
Bigarny married María Sáez Pardo, a widow with sons who had emigrated to the Americas; they had five further children. The first of these, Gregorio Pardo, born 1517, was the only one to follow in his father's career, collaborating with him toward the end of his life and continuing Bigarny's studio in the Archdiocese of Toledo. His influence extended to much sculpture in Burgos and throughout Castile in the first third of the 16th century and were even stronger at mid-century, until the rise of Romanism.
In 1519 he collaborated with Alonso Berruguete
Alonso Berruguete
Alonso González de Berruguete was a Spanish painter, sculptor and architect. He is considered to be the most important sculptor of the Spanish Renaissance, and is known for his emotive sculptures depicting religious ecstasy or torment.Born in the town of Paredes de Nava, Berrugete studied art...
on the tomb of Cardinal Juan Selvagio in Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
; the pair probably continued a collaboration on the Royal Chapel of Granada
Royal Chapel of Granada
The Royal Chapel of Granada is a mausoleum located in the city of Granada in Andalusia, southern Spain.-Mausoleum:The mausoleum houses the remains of the Catholic Monarchs :...
, which Bigarny appears to have helped design in 1521, but where he was not actively involved in the construction.
Collaboration with Diego de Siloé
Upon returning to Burgos he began a collaboration with the Burgalese Diego de Siloé, who had returned in 1519 after studying in Italy. Bigarny and Diego de Siloé had a strong rivalry, although the latter was always the stronger. In 1523 the two executed the Saint Peter altarpiece in the Capilla de los Condestable ("Chapel of the Constables", referring to the title of Constable of CastileConstable of Castile
Constable of Castile was a title created by John I, King of Castile in 1382, to substitute the title Alférez Mayor del Reino. The constable was the second person in power in the kingdom, after the King, and his responsibility was to command the military in the absence of the ruler.In 1473 Henry IV...
) of the Burgos Cathedral. In that same chapel, between 1523 and 1526 they created, for the main altarpiece, the figures of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, which falls on 2 February, celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante...
, considered one of the most beautiful works of the Spanish Renaissance. No later than 1534, Bigarny has also executed the recumbent sculptures in the chapel of Pedro Fernández de Velasco, 2nd Count of Haro and his wife.
Aware of his fame and respect in the city, Bigarny took permanent residence in Burgos, first in a building in the San Juan neighborhood and then in a distinguished house next to the Casa de la Moneda. In 1524 he contracted for the tomb of the canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
Gonzalo Díez de Lerma, also in the Burgos Cathedral, in the Capilla de la Presentación ("Chapel of the Presentation"). This very expressive sculpture shows influences from Diego de Siloé.
Although there is no documentary evidence, he is believed in these years to have completed the altarpiece of Santiago de la Puebla
Santiago de la Puebla
Santiago de la Puebla is a village and municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon. It is located 54 kilometres from the provincial capital city of Salamanca and has a population of 426 people....
(province of Salamanca) and the sculptures of the Virgen de la Silla (the Virgin Mary with the Christ child and the young John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
) and the Virgin and Child for the Church of the Assumption in El Barco de Ávila
El Barco de Ávila
El Barco de Ávila is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain.-Main sights:*Castle *Casa del Reloj*Romanesque bridge*Hermitage of Santísimo Cristo del Caño...
. This last, pictured at the start of this article, is now in the National Sculpture Museum
National Sculpture Museum (Valladolid)
The National Museum of Sculpture is a museum in Valladolid, Spain, belonging to the Spanish Ministry of Culture. The museum has an extensive collection sculptural ranging from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century from convents, donations, deposits and acquisitions of the state.The museum was...
in Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
. Artistic similarities also suggest that the tomb of canon Diego Bilbao and an altarpiece in the parish of Cardeñuela Riopico
Cardeñuela Riopico
Cardeñuela Riopico is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2007 census , the municipality has a population of 111 inhabitants....
are also by Bigarny.
In 1526 the book Medidas del Romano by Diego de Sagredo, one of the first Spanish-language books on architecture, praised Bigarny's sculpture, leading to commissions from various parts of Spain.
In 1527 he completed the altarpiece of the Descent or of the Pillar in the Toledo Cathedral, which he had probably begun in 1520. This work is also much influenced by Siloé, although soon thereafter their working relationship came to an end over differences about a contract to construct the tower of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Santa María del Campo
Santa María del Campo
Santa Maria del Campo is a village and municipality in the Province of Burgos, Spain. The village is in the wine region known as Ribera del Arlanza, 22 km from Lerma....
, which resulted in a successful lawsuit by Siloé against Bigarny.
Later years
In 1530 he provided an opinion on the work for the Salamanca Cathedral. Between 1531 and 1533 he sculpted the tomb of Bishop Alonso de Burgos for the chapel of the Colegio de San GregorioColegio de San Gregorio
The Colegio de San Gregorio is a historical building in Valladolid, Spain, currently housing the National Museum of Sculpture. It is one of the best examples of architecture in the period of the Catholic Monarchs in Spain , and was founded as a Theology College for the Dominican order....
in Valladolid (now the site of the National Museum of Sculpture). This tomb was much praised at the time, but is considered in retrospect not to be among his better work. In 1534 he sculpted the tomb of Pedro Manso, bishop of Osma, for the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña.
His wife María died, and he remarried in 1535 to Francisca Velasco.
In 1535 the chapter of the Toledo Cathedral solicited designs for the choir stall of the Cathedral from Bigarny, as well as from Diego de Siloe, Juan Picardo, and Alonso Berruguete. They ultimately contracted on 1 January 1539 with Bigarny and Berruguete to create thirty choir stalls each. Bigarny created those along the side of the Evangelist, and also on the Archbishop's side.
In 1536 he signed a contract that within the next two years he would produce two tombs, one for Diego de Avellaneda, Bishop of Tuy (in the Monastery of Saint Jerome in Espeja (province of Soria) and the other for his father (now conserved in Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
). However, in 1539 these had still not been built, because he had taken on other projects. These figures in the round were subcontracted to Enrique de Maestrique. They would be among the works left incomplete at the time of his death, and were finished by Juan de Gómez. The tom of Diego de Avellaneda was bought by the Spanish state in 1932 for the National Sculpture Museum.
In 1541 he contracted to produce an altarpiece for the Hospital of Santa Cruz in Toledo (now a museum), but it was never executed. He died in 1542 leaving behind projected or incomplete works in Toledo (where Berruguete followed through his work), Peñaranda de Duero
Peñaranda de Duero
Peñaranda de Duero is a village and municipio located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 583 inhabitants....
, Valpuesta, and Burgos. He had studios set up in each of these places, each of which had trusted delegates who were in charge in his absence. Among these were Maese Enrique, Sebastián de Salinas, Juan de Goyaz, his son Gregorio Pardo, and most importantly Diego Guillén, who was married to one of Bigarny's sisters-in-law.
Descendants
With María Sáez Pardo he had five children, including sculptor Gregorio Pardo and Clara, known in Burgos for her beauty and dubbed "la niña de plata" ("the silver girl"). With Francisca Velasco he had another five children.Works
The largest number of Bigarny's works are in Burgos, where he lived a long portion of his life, and in Toledo, where he had his most prominent studio.Scupltures
Bigarny worked most as a sculptor, and it was as a sculptor that he became most famous in his own lifetime.Burgos Cathedral
Relief of the Road to Calvary
Bagarny's first work in Burgos was a vast relief for the cathedral chapter, representing the Road to Calvary
Calvary
Calvary or Golgotha was the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early first century walls, at which the crucifixion of Jesus is said to have occurred. Calvary and Golgotha are the English names for the site used in Western Christianity...
, which was used to decorate the central wall panel of the retrochoir of the Burgos Cathedral. He began this work in 1498 and finished in March 1499, meeting the deadline for which he had contracted, and receiving 200 ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s per the contract, plus another 30 ducats out of appreciation for the excellence of his work. The work had a great impact because it went beyond the Late Gothic style, and included the first example in Spain of Renaissance ornamentation in the pilasters of the gate of Jerusalem, which included classical motifs alluding to the labors of Hercules. This led to further commissions for sculptures in Burgos.
Two additional reliefs in the retrochoir
The chapter next commissioned two high reliefs for two other panels of the retrochoir. The first represented the Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
; the second the Descent from the Cross
Descent from the Cross
The Descent from the Cross , or Deposition of Christ, is the scene, as depicted in art, from the Gospels' accounts of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus taking Christ down from the cross after his crucifixion . In Byzantine art the topic became popular in the 9th century, and in the West from the...
and the Resurrection of Jesus
Resurrection of Jesus
The Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus states that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by crucifixion. It is a key element of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: "On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures"...
. Both were completed in 1503.
The three reliefs show Bigarny's early style, largely influenced by the Late Gothic style of Northern Europe. The figures are of noble bearing, the attitudes and gestures are dramatic, the expression forceful and moving. There were also Renaissance elements such as movement and the diagonal composition of the first panel. The poor quality of the stone for the sculptures of the Burgos Cathedral has resulted in grave damage over the years, though more in the Apostles executed by Simón de Colonia
Simón de Colonia
Simón de Colonia was a Spanish architect and sculptor, son of architect Juan de Colonia and father of architect and sculptor Francisco de Colonia....
and his studio than in Bigarny's work.
Chapel of the Constables
Together with Diego de Siloé, Bigarny constructed the altarpiece of the Chapel of the Constables of Castile. The recumbent sculptures of Constable Pedro Fernández de Velasco and his wife Mencía de Mendoza y Figueroa are sculpted from Carrara marble.
Other contributions
Along with Andrés de Nájera and possibly Guillén de Holanda, Bigarny designed and executed the reliefs for the choir stalls of the Burgos Cathedral (1505-1512), using motifs from the Old and New Testaments and the lives of Christian saints. Bigarny designed and executed the alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
tomb of the canon Gonzalo de Lerma in the Chapel of the Presentation (1524).
Other works
- The main altarpiece of the Cathedral of ToledoCathedral of ToledoThe Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Toledo, Spain, seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toledo....
(1500–1503). Executed in collaboration with Diego Copín de Holanda. The Gothic style of this sculptural and architectural assemblage contrasts with the Renaissance style of the Descent From the Cross in the same cathedral. - Altarpiece of the University of SalamancaUniversity of SalamancaThe University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
(1503). - Sculpture of the altarpiece of the main chapel of Palencia CathedralPalencia CathedralPalencia Cathedral is situated in Palencia, Spain. It is dedicated to Saint Antoninus of Pamiers ....
(1505–1507). Bigarny is believed to have had relatively little involvement in this work of his studio; only the faces are his own work. - For Cardinal Cisneros in Alcalá de Henares (1512).
- Altarpiece for the Chapel of the Kings in the Church of San Gil Abad (early 16th century). Bot the architecture and the sculpture mix Late Gothic tradition with some Renaissance elements. It was inspired by the Capilla de la Buena Mañana ("Chapel of the Good Morning") in the same parish.
- Altarpiece for the Cathedral of Alcalá de Henares and two altarpieces for TorrelagunaTorrelagunaTorrelaguna is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.-Main sights:The parish church of La Magdalena is one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in the community of Madrid....
(a municipality that is now part of Madrid, early 16th century). Commissioned by Cardinal Cisneros and executed together with León Picardo. - Altarpiece for Don Gutierre de Mier and for the church of Cervera de PisuergaCervera de PisuergaCervera de Pisuerga is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 2,679 inhabitants.-External links:**...
(province of Palencia, 1513). - Altarpiece of the devotion to Saint Bartholomew (1514). This was for the altar of the confraternity of Saint Bartholomew, in the Church of Saint Stephen in Burgos. León Picardo is believed to have undertaken the painting of the interior of the church. He worked continually with Bigarny. The piece is now in the Church of San Lesmes (Saint AleaunieAleaunieSaint Adelelmus, O.S.B. , also known as Aleaunie and Lesmes, was a French-born Benedictine monk venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Laudun, Poitou, he joined the military at a young age; he went on duty before making a pilgrimage to Rome...
) in Burgos. It consists of statue of Saint Bartholomew, a series of painted panels and a Plateresque architectural assemblage. - Entrance and main altarpiece of the Church of Saint Thomas in Haro, La RiojaHaro, La RiojaHaro is a town and municipality in the northwest of La Rioja province in northern Spain. It is known for its fine red wine and every year the Haro Wine Festival is held where locals hold a wine battle....
(1516–1519). Both of these were built in cooperation with Íñigo Fernández de Velasco. The altarpiece was destroyed by the collapse of part of the building during construction. - Tomb of Cardinal Juan Selvagio, Zaragoza (1519), in collaboration with Alonso Berruguete.
- Main altarpiece of the Royal Chapel of GranadaRoyal Chapel of GranadaThe Royal Chapel of Granada is a mausoleum located in the city of Granada in Andalusia, southern Spain.-Mausoleum:The mausoleum houses the remains of the Catholic Monarchs :...
, constructed in honor of the Catholic MonarchsCatholic MonarchsThe Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
Ferdinand and Isabella. He was involved in this work in 1521 and although he was not the primary designer, he played a fundamental role in the design of the assemblage, on which Alonso Berruguete and Jacopo TorniJacopo TorniJacopo Torni , also known as Jacobo Fiorentin, L'Indaco, and Jacopo dell'Indaco, was an Italian painter. He was a student of Domenico Ghirlandaio , and the brother of painter Francesco Torni...
also worked. - Altarpiece of the Descent or of the Pilar in the Cathedral of Toledo (1520–1527).
- Part of the choir stalls of the Cathedral of Toledo (1539–1542).
- Sculptures for the palace of Peñaranda de DueroPeñaranda de DueroPeñaranda de Duero is a village and municipio located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 583 inhabitants....
.
Attributions for which there are doubts
Although Bigarny has been traditionally attributed the decoration of the Monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Piedad in CasalarreinaCasalarreina
Casalarreina is a town located in the province of La Rioja, Spain. It is located 47 kilometers from Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, in the north-west.The first documents about the village was around 1170 by Aldonza Ruiz de Castro....
and it is known that he resided in Casalarreina in 1519 there is no documentary evidence that he or his carver Matías, worked on that church. José Martí y Monsó in a study on the art and acrchitecture of Haro and Casalarreina argued against the likelihood of Bigarny or his studio having worked on the monastery, and present-day specialists generally agree with that verdict.
Architecture
Although primarily a sculptor, Bigarny was also an architect; he did not meet with comparable success gaining commissions in that field. It is believed that he submitted designs for the cimborrio (a type of dome) of the Cathredral of Burgos and the Arch of Santa María, also in Burgos. He proposed a design for the tower of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in Santa María del CampoSanta María del Campo
Santa Maria del Campo is a village and municipality in the Province of Burgos, Spain. The village is in the wine region known as Ribera del Arlanza, 22 km from Lerma....
, but it was not the one selected.