Panel Painting
Sarcophagi.

All that remains of the sacorphagus of Bishop Abril Pérez, of Galician origin and well-liked by the people, who died in 1269, are two similar panels, 156 x 53 / 155 x 54.4cm respectively, which were probably the side soffits.

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Both show the figure of the bishop lying down with his eyes closed and dressed in pontifical robes. These panels could be from the end of the 13th century or beginning of the 14th.

The Vicount of Castellbò's adhesion to the Cathar heresy provoked an Albigensian invasioh of our regions and brought about the martydom of the Dominicans: Pere de la 'Cadireta', Ponç de Planelles and Bernat de Travesseres, whose sarcophagi are preserved.

The sarcophagus of Fra Ponç de Planelles measures 184cm long by 65 high and 36 wide. The box is rectangular and very elongated with two lids which join to form a triangle.

It is divided up into six soff its in the centre with another at each end. In the eight soffits, crowned with flamboyant Gothic arches, apostles and persons connected with the Dominican order, such as St Dominic and St Thomas, are depicted.

 
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The background of each of these scenes is green, but black and brown shades tend to predominate.

The sarcophagus of Fra Bernat de Travesseres, which measures 149 x 65 x 31cms, is the work of an anonymous painter, known from his style as the 'Master of Estimariu', possibly identifiable as one, Arnau. Although the painting has been damaged, it shows the hand of a true artist.

In the top centre are two angels holding a sort of shroud and two shields; below, the body of Fra Bernat rests in peace. The best preserved fragment is on the far right of the box, where Bernat appears preaching and converting the Cathars.

 
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