Discover this treasure by looking up

Every time I bring someone to WAM, we go around the firstfloor galleries and end in the chamber filled with decorative medieval sculpture, armor, and religious objects. Just when the guests are ready to move on, I ask them to step back to the middle of the room so they can look up, and, without fail, I am instantly rewarded with an astonished “wow.” The gallery’s ceiling is an original Mudéjar-style alfarje from 15th-century Spain. This type of painted wooden ceiling, which gives an impression of a vibrant multi-colored tapestry, was mainly used in churches or palaces in Islamic culture.

The symmetrical ceiling, created by several large girders that support narrower beams, is completely covered by a kaleidoscopic array of decorative motifs: geometrical and floral, symbolic, and heraldic. Red and emerald pigments, typical for Spanish art of the Middle Ages, are dominant in the arabesque pattern of foliage and spiraling tendrils, while squares and lines are painted in golden yellows and vibrant blues. One can notice a pattern of coats of arms of different, probably Castilian, dynasties above the carrying beams. Despite the fact that every inch of the ceiling is exquisitely painted, this is an example of a relatively “plain” Spanish alfaje, suggesting a stronger Muslim influence in the area where it came from. With Moorish architecture appearing everywhere from Europe to Latin America, this object can be recognized as a cultural mark by many visitors from all over the world. I encourage everyone to stop by the medieval art galleries during your next visit and admire WAM’s beautiful alfaje!