“HIEROGLYPHICS AND ENTERPRISES” IN THE SEVILLIAN MONSTRANCE OF JUAN DE ARFE

Abstract

Juan de Arfe performs his most important work, the monstrance of the Cathedral of Seville, between 1580-1587, following finish the monstrance of Avila (1564-1571). In it introduces “hieroglyphics”, that he explains in Descripción de la traza y ornato de la custodia de plata de la Sancta Iglesia de Sevilla, under the directions of the iconographic program, Francisco Pacheco. However, the detailed study shows some differences. In this study we analyze these differences, the sources and the meaning of the hieroglyphics. Also we compare it with his other important monstrance, Valladolid (1587-1590).