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Monastery of God’s Mother

Diputación de Málaga
Convento Madre de Dios. Antequera

Monastery of God’s Mother

C/ Lucena, 41
Zip Code 29200
Monuments and Art > Convent

A most unusual example of Andalusian Baroque that is considered one of the most beautiful convents in Spain. It was designed by the architect Cristobal Garcîa and built between 1747 and 1761. No nuns live here now, and the convent is kept permanently closed.

The exterior of the building is notable for the immense height of its brick walls, the tower-dome of the main chapel and the exquisite tower-belfry located on the opposite side of the main faèade standing out as clearly-defined structures in their own right. The church front consists of pieces of jasper in various colours.

Inside, the church, which is characterised by the simplicity of its design, makes good use of curves, concave surfaces and uncomplicated decoration to produce one of the most original combinations of space to be found anywhere in Spanish architecture, its concave panels and vaults arranged in complex circles to achieve a great sense of movement. Also of interest is the subtle oriental tone of the layout of the upper and lower choirs.

In a church brimming with achievement, the greatest of all is the dome of the main chapel. Four pendentives richly decorated with coats of arms, angels and Rococo motifs support a cornice of varying line that leads to a triple dome of complex structure. The main altarpiece, Neo-Gothic in style and the only element that could be described as not particularly well-executed, features an image of the Virgen de Monteagudo, a Rococo sculpture that exudes grace and movement crafted by the sculptor Josê de Medina in 1748. Another sculpture of interest is the Inmaculada located opposite the sacristy, attributed to Diego Márquez.Worthy of note in the Gospel nave is a structure akin to an altarpiece comprising several glass urns containing a series of interesting sculptures such as an image of Santa Ana. Anne. This same nave also features an altarpiece image of San Agustîn and a Virgen de Valvanera by Miguel Márquez which forms part of a Rococo altarpiece of complex structure.The Epistle nave is home to a sculpture of San Josê attributed to Andrês de Carvajal, a 18th century Dolorosa de vestir and a most exquisite Virgen del Rosario, whose altarpiece is the finest to be found in the church.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Jesús Romero Benîtez, Guîa Artîstica de Antequera

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