This page was created by Vedanth Natarajan.
05 Spanish Ceiling [WAM 1952.18] - Who made this?
The Spanish Ceiling was commissioned, designed, and constructed by a variety of individuals each with different cultural and possibly religious backgrounds who all took part in the creation of the ceiling. The individual who commissioned the Spanish Ceiling was most likely a man of nobility, wealth, and influence who had the financial means necessary to fund such a large project. The designers of the ceiling were likely architects with a strong background in geometry and familiar with the artistic and architectural motifs of the region and time period. The construction process itself required the most involvement of people, as most architectural projects of such nature are labor-intensive. Carpenters from Northern Africa were known to work and construct Spanish Ceilings such as these. As with many other alfarje ceilings that originate in the region, the woodworkers and artists responsible for decorating the ceiling are likely Muslims who opted to stay in the region following the new Christian rule. These Muslim artists who are skilled in and inspired by Islamic ornament were likely hired by a Christian nobility to create a unique fusion of architecture known as the Mudejar style.