This church is one of the jewels of Andalusian Baroque. Lavishly decorated in honour of the Immaculate Conception.
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A mosque, a synagogue after Alfonso X granted the site to the Jews, and a Mudejar- gothic Christian church after the Jewish quarter was assailed in 1391, this church is one of the jewels of Andalusian Baroque. Lavishly decorated in honour of the Immaculate Conception, Santa María la Blanca retains much of its past beauty and character. In the 30's a serious economic crisis, which had worsened since the Black Death epidemic of 1649, held up the construction of new architectural projects. Artistic creativity evolved into a spectacular baroque style which was used in the decoration of already existing buildings. |
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Baroque artists resorted to using plaster, one of the most characteristic elements in Mudejar architecture, for decorative purposes. Santa María la Blanca is an example of this, as can be seen in the lavishly decorated plaster-designs for the vaulted ceilings and the dome over the transept which were designed by brothers Pedro and Miguel de Borja between 1662 and 1665. This display was to have a great influence on the Andalusian's baroque architecture. Four semicircular paintings by Murillo which used to hang under the cupola and the front parts of the naves were looted by Marshal Soult although the church still retains one original of The Last Supper. A Pietà is the last known work by Luis de Vargas who painted it in 1564. |