Journey to disappearance.

The paintings of San Zoilo de Carrión

Abstract

The contradictions of the 19th century determined at the same time the disappearance of a large part of our patrimonial heritage and the implementation of the first laws that paved the way for its future protection. The confiscations that took place during that century led to the nationalisation of ecclesiastical property. The protection of those assets that had hitherto been kept in the monasteries required novel measures.

It.was the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando which was responsible for the search, collection, classification and safekeeping of these pieces. The work was set in motion by commissioners appointed for this purpose, such as Valentin Carderera, and was followed by the efforts of the provincial commission for monuments.

This article aims to show the journey of the paintings from San Zoilo´s monastery until their final disappearance. We are going to follow their trail by relating the problematic slowness of the Palencia commission to the one in Valladolid, which managed to create its own museum.