Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora del Yugo
By Ricardo Fernández Gracia
Vicente Berdusán's canvases on the main altarpiece
The canvases are the work of Vicente Berdusán, although those of the bench and of the main body are very retouched and have lost the fieriness and luminosity of the 17th century. Those of the bench represent the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Epiphany, as well as two miracles of the Virgin of the Yoke. In those of the main body, on both sides of the main niche we contemplate those of the Flight into Egypt and the Visitation, in reverse order to how they should have been in the beginning. Finally, those in the attic, which show the painter's vaporous and colorful style, are dedicated to the Annunciation, Saint Joachim, Saint Anne and the Virgin and to the two Trinities, the one in the center is signed by Vicente Berdusán. All three are based on compositions already used by the painter in other works. The one of the Annunciation repeats the model of the main altarpiece of the Rosary of Corella or of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fair Love de la Esperanza of Valtierra, while the one of Saint Anne with Saint Joachim and the Virgin and Child is repeated.
That of the two Trinities is undoubtedly the best preserved and best quality piece. It is clearly related to other canvases by the painter, such as the one signed and dated 1681, kept in the Carmelite monastery of San Sebastián.
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MUNÁRRIZ, L., El santuario del Yugo, Pamplona, Imprenta y Librería de Joaquín Lorda, 1898.
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GARCÍA GAÍNZA, M. C. and others, Monumental Catalogue of Navarre. I. Merindad de Tudela, Pamplona, Government of Navarre-Archbishopric of Pamplona-University of Navarre, 1980.
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FERNÁNDEZ-LADREDA, C., Imaginería medieval mariana, Pamplona, Government of Navarre, 1989.
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FERNÁNDEZ GRACIA, R., "Un aspecto de la arquitectura barroca en Navarra: los camarines", conference proceedings del I congress General de Historia de Navarra. Príncipe de Viana (1988), appendix 11, pp. 149-158.
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ECHEVERRÍA GOÑI, P. and FERNÁNDEZ GRACIA, R., "La arquitectura religiosa de los siglos XVI al XVIII en Navarra", Ibaiak eta Haranak. Guía del Patrimonio artístico y paisajístico. Navarra, vol. VIII, San Sebastián, Etor, 1991.
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AZANZA LÓPEZ, J. J., Arquitectura Religiosa Barroca en Navarra, Pamplona, Government of Navarre, 1996.
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FERNÁNDEZ GRACIA, R., The Baroque altarpiece in Navarre. Pamplona, Government of Navarre, 2003.