Camarín

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Camarín of the Church of Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Camarín of the Cartuja of Granada

As Camarín ( catalan Cambril is) in Spain and in the former Spanish colonial empire a small, half-hidden space behind the high altar called a church, is on its exact purpose unclear. In rare cases there can be several small interconnected rooms.

definition

Capilla ó pieza que suele haber detras de un altar, donde se venera alguna Imágen. Diccionario de arquitectura civil, 1802. (Translation: "Chapel or room, usually behind the altar, in which an image is venerated.")

function

Possible functions for the space basically reserved for the priest alone are mentioned:

  • Dressing room for the priest
  • Prayer or meditation room
  • Tabernacle room
  • Treasure or jewelry chapel

architecture

Camarínes are only about 5 to 10 m² big rooms behind the altar with often overly rich late baroque furnishings (figures, ceiling paintings etc.) Usually very small (ceiling) windows are sufficient for exposure.

Occurrence

Camarínes occur predominantly in baroque churches in southern Spain and Catalonia as well as in the Spanish-Portuguese colonial empire.

literature

  • Venancio Galán Cortés: Una Estancia Celestial en la Tierra: El Camarín. in: María del Amor Rodríguez Miranda: Nuevas perspectivas sobre el Barroco Andaluz. Arte, Tradición, Ornato y Símbolo. 2015. ISBN 978-84-606-8084-0 , pp. 517-530. (PDF, Spanish)

Web links