The painting that made Master Mateo famous is The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino (1211); it hangs in the Muzeum katedrály svatého Jakuba v Santiagu de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela. Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory (1188) and Trinity of the Portico of Glory (1188) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 44 works by Master Mateo in our catalogue, these 44 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.
Seřazeno podle našeho skóre popularity, které kombinuje počet vyhledávání, návštěv a objednávek u každého díla. Aktualizováno říjen 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.
The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino is a square format work by the sculptor Master Mateo. Created about 1211, this piece originates from the period when the artist was actively shaping the architectural identity of the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain.
To stand before the Portico of Glory is to witness a profound shift in the language of stone. This specific base of the mullion, carved around 1188, offers a glimpse into the transition from the rigid forms of the Romanesque to a more fluid, naturalistic sensibility. Here, the stone does not merely exist; it breathes. The sculptor, Master Mateo, utilized a technique known as trabajo vivo, layering limestone to create…
Divine Presence in Stone The capital features God the Father holding the Christ child upon his lap. Above them, the Holy Spirit takes form as a dove at the peak of the composition. Angels surround these central figures, carrying incense burners to complete the celestial scene. This sculptural arrangement uses the trabajo vivo technique, layering stone slabs to create textures that mimic flesh and fabric. The result is a sense…
In the hallowed atmosphere of the Santiago Cathedral, where history and spirituality converge, stands a figure of profound majesty: the Statue-column of King David. Carved by the legendary Master Mateo around 1188, this Romanesque masterpiece is far more than a mere architectural ornament; it is a window into the soul of the twelfth century. The sculpture captures the biblical monarch in a moment of eternal resonance, seated upon a cross-frame…
The Glory, Central Arch, Portico of Glory is a sculptural work by Master Mateo. It forms a primary component of the Portico of Glory, located at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This specific section of the portal was part of a complete three-piece set that reached its conclusion in 1211. The work is currently held at The Catedral de Santiago Foundation in Santiago de Compostela.
Within the sacred shadows of the Portico of Glory, a profound scene unfolds in stone. The Elders holding instruments, Central Arch, Portico of Glory emerges from the limestone, appearing as if caught in a moment of eternal preparation. This work, created by the hands of Master Mateo, brings the figures of the Apocalypse into a tangible, breathing presence. They sit amidst the radial archivolts, their bodies leaning toward one another…
These two stone voussoirs, titled Voussoirs with the punishment of lust, were executed by the sculptor Master Mateo. The carvings date to about 1188. They represent a specific sculptural program intended for the architectural framework of the cathedral's entrance.
Meanwhile, on the extreme right of the tympanum, next to Saint Marcus, we see four sculptures. It involves the second procession of angels that carry the “arma Christi”. The first of these figures, from left to right, carry the four cloves of the crucifixion and on his right hand he grabs the spear. The veiled hands show which objects where directly touch by Christ. For that reason, these last three…
Just in the reverse of the mullion appears a kneeling figure, with its right hand on the chest and holding a cartouche with the left hand where, according…
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Master Mateo and his team also worked on the construction of the choir in the first 4 sections of the cathedral
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The narthex (or antechamber) of the Portico of Glory had a western facade that served as the gable of Santiago Cathedral, as well as completing it. The facade…
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The Portico of Glory of Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a Romanesque portico and the cathedral
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In the Glory as well, beside the evangelists Saint Luke and Saint Marcus, we can find a series of angels that carry the “arma Christi”, the instruments used…
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In the delicate, monochromatic strokes of the drawing Drawing José Vega y Verdugo (1656-1657) Archivo de la Catedral, we are invited to step into a vanished era of…
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This last scene, commonly from Byzantine art, does not come from the Bible but from one of the apocryphal gospels, the Nicodemus. It is told that when Christ…
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The work to the cathedral facade between 1519 and 1521 involved its 3 doors, and it was necessary to take down the column statues and reliefs added by…
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Items made by Master Mateo in the cathedral collections include significant pieces from the great western facade that completed the Portico of Glory. This facade was first modified…
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Master Mateo and his team also worked on the construction of the choir. It was closely related to the Portico of Glory as both focus on sharing the…
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In the lintels where the Portico of Glory settles can be found Master Mateo’s commemorative inscription of its placement the 1st of April of 1188. This epigraph, one…
Bring it home →The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.
2 muzea, v nichž je umístěno nejvíce obrazů z této stránky.
| Muzea | Město | Díla autora Master Mateo | Obrazy z tohoto seznamu |
|---|---|---|---|
 Muzeum katedrály svatého Jakuba v Santiagu de Compostela |
Santiago de Compostela | 40 | The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino, Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory, Trinity of the Portico of Glory |
 Cathedral |
Santiago de Compostela | 4 | Portico de la Gloria, Portico de la Gloria (detail), Portico de la Gloria |
To stand before the Portico of Glory is to witness a profound shift in the language of stone. This specific base of the mullion, carved around 1188, offers…
Just in the reverse of the mullion appears a kneeling figure, with its right hand on the chest and holding a cartouche with the left hand where, according…
The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino is a square format work by the sculptor Master Mateo. Created about 1211, this piece originates from the period…
The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino (1211), Muzeum katedrály svatého Jakuba v Santiagu de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela. Next come Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory (1188) and Trinity of the Portico of Glory (1188).
50 years old: The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino dates from 1211 and Master Mateo was born in 1161.
The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino, Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory, Trinity of the Portico of Glory, Statue-column of king David, The Glory, Central Arch, Portico of Glory, The Elders holding instruments, Central Arch, Portico of Glory, Voussoirs with the punishment of lust, Saint Matthew, Central Arch, Portico of Glory, Saint Luke, Central Arch, Portico of Glory a Arma Christi, Central Arch, Portico of Glory. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.
Our catalogue lists 44 works by Master Mateo, dated from 1188 to 1211.
Most of them are in Muzeum katedrály svatého Jakuba v Santiagu de Compostela (Santiago de Compostela) a Cathedral (Santiago de Compostela). The table above lists the museums one by one.
In 1210s: 24 of the 44 works on this page date from then, among them The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino.
The earliest on this page is Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory (1188), the latest The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino (1211).
Medieval art (5), Sculpture (4) a Religious iconography (4), among the 44 works on this page.
Stone: 7 of the 44 works on this page.
Romanesque a Gothic, as the paintings on this page show.
The disappeared façade at the end of the Camino, Base of the mullion of the Portico of Glory a Trinity of the Portico of Glory are among the 40 works on this page held by the Muzeum katedrály svatého Jakuba v Santiagu de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.
Master Mateo, a sculptor whose name remains shrouded in mystery despite his monumental contribution to the Catedral de Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, stands as one of the most revered figures of Romanesque art in Spain. Born around 1161 in Galicia, though precise details about his life are scarce, Mateo’s legacy rests primarily on his unparalleled achievement: the Portico de la Gloria. This breathtaking architectural marvel dominates the cathedral’s façade and embodies the spiritual fervor of the twelfth century. He emerged as a sculptor during a period marked by fervent religious devotion and artistic innovation, stepping into a world where the pilgrimage route to Santiago was already a transformative journey for thousands of souls.
The genesis of his greatest work began around 1188, when he was tasked with overseeing the creation of the triple doorway that would become his magnum opus. The Cathedral project itself had been conceived decades earlier, driven by King Alfonso VIII and fueled by the immense religious significance of the site. Within this sacred context, Mateo did not merely carve stone; he breathed life into it. His involvement in the Portico de la Adamant was a divine undertaking, transforming a structural necessity into a theological narrative that continues to captivate pilgrims and art historians alike.
Mateo's sculptural style is characterized by a remarkable realism that represented a profound departure from earlier, more rigid Romanesque conventions. While his contemporaries often relied on stylized, flat figures, Mateo meticulously studied human anatomy and the complex behavior of drapery, achieving an astonishing accuracy in his depictions. His mastery of limestone carving was unparalleled, particularly through his use of a technique known as trabajo vivo. This method involved layering stone slabs to create textured surfaces that mimicked the appearance of flesh and fabric, lending a sense of movement and vitality to the static medium.
This innovative approach allowed him to bridge the gap between the earthly and the divine. When observing his work, one can see how he skillfully employed light and shadow to enhance the depth of his reliefs. His ability to manipulate stone to suggest the softness of a saint's robe or the muscular tension of a biblical figure elevated his craftsmanship to a level of sophistication rarely seen in the Middle Ages. This technical brilliance ensured that his figures were not merely symbols, but palpable presences within the cathedral's entrance.
The Portico de la Gloria serves as the ultimate testament to Mateo’s artistic and spiritual vision. Its central panels depict profound scenes from the Gospels—including the Nativity, Annunciation, and the Crucifixion—arranged in a way that guides the viewer through a sacred history. The iconography is vast and complex, featuring:
Through these works, Mateo achieved a level of historical significance that transcends the era of his birth. He transitioned the Romanesque style toward the burgeoning elegance of the Gothic, leaving behind a legacy that remains the heartbeat of Santiago de Compostela. His work stands as a permanent bridge between the medieval mind and the eternal, ensuring that even centuries after his death in 1217, the glory of his stone symphony continues to inspire awe.
