Paintings from Arlanza

The Arlanza paintings form a stunning collection of frescoes originally adorning the Benedictine monastery of San Pedro de Arlanza in Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. Dating back to around 1210, these artworks have become dispersed across various collections over time. In the 19th century, the Spanish government began detaching and selling portions of these frescoes, though some sections still remain at their original site. The largest set of six significant fragments was relocated to the National Art Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona in 1943.

These Romanesque mural paintings primarily depict religious themes but also include rare courtly or secular decorations. Art historian C. R. Dodwell described them as "imposing" capturing the power and grandeur of Romanesque art at its finest.

The Arlanza frescoes are notable for featuring ten very large animals and other heraldic subjects inspired by illuminated bestiaries. The collection in Barcelona showcases depictions of a gryphon, a lion, and a dragon. The style of these paintings is closely related to other Spanish works from around 1200, particularly the frescoes from the Monastery of Santa María de Sigena in Barcelona. The Sigena frescoes reveal influences from English illuminated manuscript miniatures, evident in their refined, precise motifs and monumental quality.

The Arlanza fragments in New York include a section of a black-and-white frieze with additional figures, such as fantastical beasts running beneath the larger, colorful animals, enriching the tapestry of this remarkable collection.