Salamanca sky
25 minutes
El Cielo de Salamanca1 is a mural painting attributed to Fernando Gallego2 that corresponds to the third part of the decoration of the vault of the old Library of the Major Schools of the University of Salamanca. The painting is an astrological representation (signs, constellations, the Sun and Mercury) of part of the celestial vault, following the iconography of the Poeticon Astronomicon.
Art and Astronomy in the Vault of the Old University Library
If, according to Borges, ‘we are our memory’, the University of Salamanca is full of memories crystallised in works, such as the Astrological Vault of its Old Library, which remain and give consistency to its history.
The University, with the aim of disseminating its heritage and deepening its knowledge, has wanted to make this exhibition on the popularly known as El Cielo de Salamanca, a term coined in 1951 by Rafael Láinez Alcalá, professor of Art History of this University.
It is an original work made by one of the strongest and most unique personalities of our Gothic painting, Fernando Gallego (1440-1507), who wanted to express in it a luminous vision of the night itself, painting the starry sky in the light of day, making the invisible visible.
Salamanca was the scene of the important advance that took place in the Spanish art advanced the fifteenth century, because in its Library an innovative iconography was projected, of a great modernity, completely different from what at that time could be seen in Spain.
This exhibition aims to fulfill the objective of evoking and illustrating a brilliant past, at a time when this surprising pictorial work emerged, in the 1480s, called to become the symbolic gozne that facilitates the closure of one period and the opening of another: when the chair of Astrology acquired a relevant role, acting as a bridge between the medieval tradition and the development of Renaissance science at the same University of Salamanca.
The exhibition takes place in three exhibition halls located in the Patio of Minor Schools of the University of Salamanca, allowing the tour the contemplation of the preserved work, its interpretation and analysis, and finally the breakdown of the elements that make up El Cielo de Salamanca.
The visual impact of these images was highlighted by the Sicilian Lucio Marineo Sculo, professor of the Salmantine Study, at the end of the 15th century, considering that they were valued “with the greatest possible taste by those who look at them”.
This is what is now also intended, and that the visitor can feel at the end of his tour how, evoking the expression of our romancer, "heaven on earth fits".
Art and Astronomy in the Vault of the Old University Library
If, according to Borges, ‘we are our memory’, the University of Salamanca is full of memories crystallised in works, such as the Astrological Vault of its Old Library, which remain and give consistency to its history.
The University, with the aim of disseminating its heritage and deepening its knowledge, has wanted to make this exhibition on the popularly known as El Cielo de Salamanca, a term coined in 1951 by Rafael Láinez Alcalá, professor of Art History of this University.
It is an original work made by one of the strongest and most unique personalities of our Gothic painting, Fernando Gallego (1440-1507), who wanted to express in it a luminous vision of the night itself, painting the starry sky in the light of day, making the invisible visible.
Salamanca was the scene of the important advance that took place in the Spanish art advanced the fifteenth century, because in its Library an innovative iconography was projected, of a great modernity, completely different from what at that time could be seen in Spain.
This exhibition aims to fulfill the objective of evoking and illustrating a brilliant past, at a time when this surprising pictorial work emerged, in the 1480s, called to become the symbolic gozne that facilitates the closure of one period and the opening of another: when the chair of Astrology acquired a relevant role, acting as a bridge between the medieval tradition and the development of Renaissance science at the same University of Salamanca.
The exhibition takes place in three exhibition halls located in the Patio of Minor Schools of the University of Salamanca, allowing the tour the contemplation of the preserved work, its interpretation and analysis, and finally the breakdown of the elements that make up El Cielo de Salamanca.
The visual impact of these images was highlighted by the Sicilian Lucio Marineo Sculo, professor of the Salmantine Study, at the end of the 15th century, considering that they were valued “with the greatest possible taste by those who look at them”.
This is what is now also intended, and that the visitor can feel at the end of his tour how, evoking the expression of our romancer, "heaven on earth fits".
Free visit price
- Individual - 0.00 €
Planets
Sol
The Sun - which in Astrology is considered the most important planet in the horoscope - the Greek Helios, is shown to us as a young imberbe, crowned with rays, and typically gothic clothing, both for its design and for the arrangement of the folds. He rides in a quadrangle pulled by three white and one black horses, which ride impetuously upwards and allow him to cross the horizon every day from dawn to sunset. He holds the scepter in his right hand, while with his left he holds the reins. The Sun goes to its daytime house, Leo, which has been efficacious in the wheel of the chariot, in a triumphant attitude.
Mercury
Mercury, being the planet closest to the Sun, figures to the right of it, with smaller size, in the march through cosmic space, way of its nocturnal abode, which is Virgo. It is offered to us in a cart pulled by two eagles and next to their daytime dwellings (Gemini, the two twins expert in the handling of weapons: Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus and Leda), and nocturnal (Virgo), which has been depicted on the two visible wheels. Mercury carries the well-known Caduceus, attribute of his conciliatory mission as ambassador, and exhibits on his chest a bright star. The Romans called him "messenger of the gods" because he moved faster than the other planets. It is also the pattern of science, since this planet is the one that astrologically grants intelligence.
Sol
The Sun - which in Astrology is considered the most important planet in the horoscope - the Greek Helios, is shown to us as a young imberbe, crowned with rays, and typically gothic clothing, both for its design and for the arrangement of the folds. He rides in a quadrangle pulled by three white and one black horses, which ride impetuously upwards and allow him to cross the horizon every day from dawn to sunset. He holds the scepter in his right hand, while with his left he holds the reins. The Sun goes to its daytime house, Leo, which has been efficacious in the wheel of the chariot, in a triumphant attitude.
Mercury
Mercury, being the planet closest to the Sun, figures to the right of it, with smaller size, in the march through cosmic space, way of its nocturnal abode, which is Virgo. It is offered to us in a cart pulled by two eagles and next to their daytime dwellings (Gemini, the two twins expert in the handling of weapons: Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus and Leda), and nocturnal (Virgo), which has been depicted on the two visible wheels. Mercury carries the well-known Caduceus, attribute of his conciliatory mission as ambassador, and exhibits on his chest a bright star. The Romans called him "messenger of the gods" because he moved faster than the other planets. It is also the pattern of science, since this planet is the one that astrologically grants intelligence.
Southern constellations
Hydra
Daughter of Typhon and Echidna, represented as a great serpent, but without showing the seven heads present in the mythological model; It is more than 7 meters long, and we are offered full of stars, while joining CORVUS (Crow) and CRATER (Orza or Vaso).
Next to Hydra a slender ROBUR tree (Roble) unfolds, since it does not represent, in this case, any constellation, it lacks stars.
The reason for its presence here, is based on the tree that appears in the fable of the crow, the hydra and the crater in the Catasterisms (Transformation into stars), Eratosthenes of Cyrene (ca.273-192 BC), astronomer mathematician, geographer and director of the famous library of Alexandria.
Centaur
He is related to Chiron, the centaur son of Cronus and Philyra, begotten before they were transformed into horses. Chiron became the wisest of his congeners and famous physician and preceptor of some of the most outstanding heroes, such as Jason and Achilles. It is said that he was casually wounded by one of Hercules' arrows, intoxicated with the blood of the Hydra. Zeus merciful to him placed him in heaven performing a sacrifice, so he carries the Fiera in his hand to immolate her on the altar to which he is going. The penetrating gaze of the Centaur, as well as its black curly hairs, are not strange to those of other human types present in the religious work of Gallego.
Ara
It is located next to Centauro with the crackling flames, arranged on a body of Gothic design ornate with trilobed arches and a basement, in which the well-known inscription has been placed, with classical rootprint, as Gallego usually does.
Southern crown
Although it is usually related to the crown of Sagittarius, we do not have a myth for its characterization. She is linked to the god Dionysus, son of Semele, whom Zeus had chosen as a mortal lover.
Hydra
Daughter of Typhon and Echidna, represented as a great serpent, but without showing the seven heads present in the mythological model; It is more than 7 meters long, and we are offered full of stars, while joining CORVUS (Crow) and CRATER (Orza or Vaso).
Next to Hydra a slender ROBUR tree (Roble) unfolds, since it does not represent, in this case, any constellation, it lacks stars.
The reason for its presence here, is based on the tree that appears in the fable of the crow, the hydra and the crater in the Catasterisms (Transformation into stars), Eratosthenes of Cyrene (ca.273-192 BC), astronomer mathematician, geographer and director of the famous library of Alexandria.
Centaur
He is related to Chiron, the centaur son of Cronus and Philyra, begotten before they were transformed into horses. Chiron became the wisest of his congeners and famous physician and preceptor of some of the most outstanding heroes, such as Jason and Achilles. It is said that he was casually wounded by one of Hercules' arrows, intoxicated with the blood of the Hydra. Zeus merciful to him placed him in heaven performing a sacrifice, so he carries the Fiera in his hand to immolate her on the altar to which he is going. The penetrating gaze of the Centaur, as well as its black curly hairs, are not strange to those of other human types present in the religious work of Gallego.
Ara
It is located next to Centauro with the crackling flames, arranged on a body of Gothic design ornate with trilobed arches and a basement, in which the well-known inscription has been placed, with classical rootprint, as Gallego usually does.
Southern crown
Although it is usually related to the crown of Sagittarius, we do not have a myth for its characterization. She is linked to the god Dionysus, son of Semele, whom Zeus had chosen as a mortal lover.