Rodrigo Alemán

Main altar of the Cathedral of Toledo on which Alemán contributed

Rodrigo Alemán (* 1470 ? In Sigüenza , † 1542 in Plasencia ) was a Castilian sculptor. Art experts rate him as one of the best sculptors ever.

Life

His biography is sketchy. He was probably born in Sigüenza in the province of Guadalajara in 1470 and baptized Rodrigo Duque in the local cathedral. The name Alemán (the German) may be traced back to the Central European origins of his family. His works include the chairs of the cathedrals of Toledo , Ciudad Rodrigo and Plasencia. In some of his works there are hints of erotic relationships between monks and women, but also allusions to homosexuality . These and other taboos such as the depiction of playing devils and a physically handicapped person led to a conflict with the Inquisition .

Legend

According to a legend, Alemán was imprisoned in one of the towers of Placencia Cathedral. Using feathers from geese that he had plucked for the kitchen, he constructed a flying machine and flew away.

Works

• Choir of Toledo Cathedral
• Altarpiece of Toledo Cathedral in Gothic style
• Choir stalls of the Cathedral of Ciudad Rodrigo
• Choir stalls of Plasencia Cathedral

literature

• Arena, Héctor Luis: Master Rodrigo Aleman's choir stalls. Heidelberg, 1965
• Heim, Dorothee: Rodrigo Alemán and the Toledaner sculpture around 1500: Studies on artistic dialogue in Europe. Kiel, 2006, ISBN 3-937719-04-0 = 978-3-937719-04-7
• Mateo Gómez, Isabel: Temas iconográficos interpretados por el maestro Rodrigo Alemán en la sillería de la Catedral de Toledo. In: Goya, No. 105 (1971), pp. 158-163
• Vasallo Toranzo, Luis: El Cabildo de la Catedral de Ciudad Rodrigo contra Rodrigo Alemán. In: Archivo español de arte. Madrid, T. 72, No. 286, pp. 199-203