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This Chapel

It was the Reial Monestir Santes Creus, belonging to the order of the Cistercians, located in Aiguamurcia, Alt Camp, province of Tarragona. Apart from the undoubted artistic quality of different styles represented in this monastic Church, attracted my attention one of the two chapels arranged in the sides of the temple, next to the main entrance door. This Chapel, called San Juan Evangelista, I was going to bring great and pleasant surprises already appearing, in the central image of the altarpiece, the figure of a San Juan Evangelista with distinctly feminine aspect, long and curly hair redheads, Crimson, fleshy and sensual lips and holding a cup or Grail with the left hand at chest height. (see photo on the website of the author) Images: JUAN EVANGELISTA observed the color red hair as I went closer and carefully contemplating the altarpiece made in polychrome and painted in oils, wood discovered that there were seven additional at the bottom icons of the same, and to observe them carefully saw that they reproduced different passages Bible about Jesus and Magdalene Maria. Although the central figure of the altarpiece is intended to be the San Juan Evangelist, too many aspects contradicted it. Traditionally at this is represented with a manly appearance, populated beard and mature age, almost always with a book in your hands.

Suffice it to recall the paintings about San Juan Evangelist of painters such as El Greco, Titian or Velazquez. On the other hand, the central image of the altarpiece was undoubtedly feminine. I identified it as Maria Magdalena, by the long copper-reddish hair and the type of clothing and colors most often used in its representation, with a predominance of red. Also the fact hold in his left hand the URN where the oils that anointed Jesus are saved, an unmistakable figure, so I is as he has represented mostly.