Spain's Alhambra of Granada recovers an artistic gem

The Alhambra of Granada has recovered one of its artistic gems following a ten-year restoration project of leather paintings on the three arches in the Hall of the Kings and the Patio of the Lions.

The restored leather paintings of the vaults of the Hall of the Kings of the Alhambra in Granada
[Credit: EFE/Pepepe Torres]

The paintings, commissioned by Muhammed V of Granada (1338-1391), portray illustrious figures of the Nasrid dynasty and are one-of-a-kind in the world for the technique used to create them.

According to sources at the Alhambra and Generalife, the restoration cost three million euros and was completed by a multidisciplinary team of conservators, restorers, architects, chemists, art historians, and biologists, coordinated by the Alhambra Conservation Service and the Andalusian Institute for Historic Heritage (IAPH).

The restored leather paintings of the vaults of the Hall of the Kings of the Alhambra in Granada
[Credit: EFE/Pepepe Torres]

Despite the fact that there are no sources from the era that explain the representations portrayed in the paintings, the side arches have scenes of cavalry, hunting and courtesans; while the central arch shows a meeting of the first ten kings of the Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim dynasty that ruled the Emirate of Granada from 1238 to 1492. Its fall marked the end of the Al-Andalus.

Each of the three 15-metre paintings have depictions "not given in Islam and one-of-a-kind worldwide", according to Andalusia Culture Councillor Miguel Angel Vazquez, who presented the results of the restoration.

The restored leather paintings of the vaults of the Hall of the Kings of the Alhambra in Granada
[Credit: EFE/Pepepe Torres]

The work was last restored in 1885, and its deterioration had been hastened by leaks in the structure's roof.

Source: ANSAmed [August 29, 2018]