5 artistic works you will see during the tour of the Cathedral of Seville
Seville is a land of great artists, who were inspired by this land to elaborate their divine representation. In this context, the Cathedral of Seville has one of the main religious art collections in Europe and is considered one of the largest and best art galleries in Spain.
During our guided tours through the Cathedral of Seville, besides accessing one of the main monuments of the city, you will find a series of paintings of great importance in the history of Spain. We go over 5 of the main artistic works that you will be able to see during your visit to the Cathedral.
Immaculate of Bartholomew. Esteban Murillo (1662)
This Immaculate was the first painting commissioned by the Cabildo of the Cathedral of Seville from Murillo, the painter who best captured the essence of Seville and its people. It is located in the Chapterhouse, one of the most original rooms of the Cathedral, at a height and with a natural light that is impossible not to fall in love with its beauty.
Murillo's Immaculate Conception in the Cathedral is one of the most important in the iconography of this character and is a must for anyone taking a guided tour of the Cathedral of Seville.
Saints Justa and Rufina. Francisco de Goya (1817)
The Holy Martyrs of the city of Seville also have their place in various rooms of the Cathedral of Seville. However, of all their representations, the one made by the Zaragozan painter Francisco de Goya is especially noteworthy. The painting, of great dimensions, is located in the Sacristy of Calices.
This painting has a great symbolism related to the history of the sisters Justa and Rufina and their martyrdom, so we recommend you to come to this room during your visit to the Cathedral and enjoy every detail.
La Magdalena. Artemisa Gentileschi (17th century)
The Cathedral of Seville also houses the work of female painters. This is the case of the Roman Baroque artist Artemisa Gentileschi. Her representation of La Magdalena is located in the Treasure Room and is also a must for those taking a guided tour with entrance to the Cathedral of Seville.
Not many Cathedrals can afford to have among their collection the work of one of the most prestigious women painters of Baroque Europe, an exponent of Caravaggism. For this same reason, La Magdalena is another painting that you cannot miss during the guided tour of the Cathedral of Seville.
The Vision of Saint Anthony of Padua. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1656)
This is the largest painting made by Murillo and is also present inside the Cathedral of Seville, more specifically in the Chapel of Saint Anthony, also called the Baptismal Chapel.
The image that represents the baby Jesus and the Lisbon saint also has its own particular history: in 1874 it was attacked by a thief, who cut the figure of Saint Anthony, who later appeared in New York. If you look at the painting carefully, you can see the marks of the cut and the subsequent restoration. We encourage you to find them during your tour of the Cathedral of Seville.
Virgin of Belen. Alonso Cano (1635-1637)
In addition to the great artistic works that decorate the different halls of the Capital of Seville, there are also smaller works in dimension, but with a very important artistic relevance. Such is the case of the Virgin of Belen, by the Andalusian painter Alonso Cano.
The painting is located in a small altarpiece in the Chapel of the Virgin of Belen, next to the so-called Centenary Altar. We recommend that you pay special attention to this area of the Cathedral of Seville during your visit, so that you do not miss this beautiful work of art representing a Virgin that is very present in Seville's pictorial iconography.