Um esplendor escondido: a cor dos claustros medievais na Catalunha dos séculos XII e XIII

The identification of polychromy in medieval imagery during restoration campaigns has significantly advanced the iconographic and formal interpretation of monumental sculpture. This integration of image and color provides a fresh perspective, offering deeper insights into how the Church explicitly conveyed its dogma. Consequently, the polychrome image emerges as a pivotal medium of expression for 12th and 13th century society. The limited availability of case studies on monumental sculptural color presents a major challenge in contemporary medieval art research. Within this context, Catalonia stands out as a remarkable example on the Iberian Peninsula, owing to the chromatic remnants preserved in various sculptural and architectural ecclesiastical elements. This study focuses on Catalan medieval cloisters, proposing novel approaches to understanding the role of polychromy in its environment, and the interplay between sculpture and liturgical practices. It proposes that color was not merely aesthetic but served a wide array of symbolic meanings and functional contexts.