Las intarsias de la sillería del coro de Plasencia: influencia italiana temprana en el núcleo artístico toledano

Abstract

Among the Works of Rodrigo Alemán, one of the most important sculptors in the Toletian late gothic sculpture group, it is possible to identify some Renaissance elements which were added prior to the deep changes arising after the stay of Andrea Sansovino in Toledo in 1500. The choir stalls in Plasencia (1497-1508) comprise intarsia panels decorated with figures representing saints and the portraits of the Catholic King and Queen. These panels were made simultaneously to the stalls. After concluding that these decorative intarsia panels cannot be the result of an evolution of the models made in Spain until that moment, it is established, based on comparisons with intarsia decorations in Italy, that they show remarkable similarities, both technical and related to the ornaments used, especially the grotesques, with those made in the area of artistic influence of Florence, in particular Perugia and Urbino. It is further suggested that Pedro Berruguete, who was active in the latter city, could be the link to explain the introduction of Italian intarsia panels in the choir stalls in Plasencia.