2018_12_13_FYL_noticia_clausuras_femeninas

Ricardo Fernández Gracia, professor of the School of Philosophy and director of the Chair of Heritage and Navarrese Art of the University of Navarra, has published the book Tras las celosías. Patrimonio material e inmaterial en las clausuras de Navarra.

In the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the presentation has counted with the intervention of Icíar Astiasarán, Vice President of research of the University of Navarra; Agustín Guibert, trustee of the Fuentes Dutor Foundation; Luis Javier Fortún, corresponding academic of the Royal Academy of History; Francisco Pérez, Archbishop of Pamplona; and the author of the work.

As pointed out by Fernández Gracia, "the knowledge of what has surrounded the female cloisters in Navarra, from its buildings to its rich intangible heritage in terms of customs, cooking recipes and celebrations, will help to value this cultural heritage treasured within its wallsover the centuries". Sponsored by the Fuentes Dutor Foundation, "the work aims to be in tune with UNESCO, which has recalled the threats to heritage and the need for the preservation of cultures," he adds.

Culture and spirituality

The result of several years of research, this work deals with topics such as the foundations and their charisms, the buildings and their dependencies, the endowments of the convents, as well as the crafts, the cuisine and the conventual music: "In a context that was not easy, notable religious personalities developed with autonomy and independence high levels of culture and spirituality. Writers, artists and musicians left their mark in testimonies that we can still admire".

Likewise, Fernandez Gracia points out that "all this heritage has been preserved thanks to the care, delicacy, effort and dedication of some nuns who have lived their vocation within their cloisters. The contemplative life has coexisted harmoniously and secularly with the heritage".

Co-published by the Fundación Fuentes Dutor and the Publications Service University of Navarra, the book will be available on the web page of the aforementioned institution and on the digital Library Services of the academic center.

Professor of Art History at the University of Navarra and corresponding academic of the Royal Academy of History, Ricardo Fernández Gracia has directed, since 2009, the Chair of Heritage and Navarrese Art of the academic center. His research focuses mainly on iconography, the promotion of the arts and the historical-artistic heritage of Navarre.