| Commentary: |
Snow 2007: "The author detects in the illuminations of the CSM an Alfonso fond of the plastic arts, specifically of architecture, sculpture and painting. He outlines — in three notes — a series of poems to support his view. For architectural knowledge — vocabulary, styles, and construction practices — we have CSM 78, 179, 5, 65, 103, 45, 226, 364, 358, 249, and 231 as exemplars. For sculptural works — mostly images of the Virgen — there are CSM 366, 352, 42, 308, 164, 202, 136, 162, 251, 219, 324, 349, 295, 312, and 292 that figure importantly. Finally, for painting of all kinds — on walls, wood, glass, cloths, etc. — he draws attention to CSM 29, 74, 122, 306, 9, 264, 377, 187, 134, 95, 18, and 362 all contain useful references. Illustrations are provided for the four CSM in italics above, and also for CSM 135 and 169.rnIf indeed the presence in the miniatures of so much evidence of the plastic arts can be ascribed to the desire on the part of the artists to reflect Alfonso's personal tastes (a plausible contention), then this will prove to be a valuable contribution, and a point of departure for future detailed study of the aesthetic world of Alfonso X."rn |
