This page was created by Vedanth Natarajan. The last update was by Amanda Luyster.
Who made the Spanish Ceiling?
The Spanish Ceiling was commissioned, designed, and constructed by a variety of individuals from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. The individual who commissioned the Spanish Ceiling would have been a nobleman who had the financial means necessary to fund such a large project. The designers of the ceiling were architects with a strong background in geometry; they would have been familiar with the artistic and architectural motifs of the region. The actual construction required the largest number people, as it was labor-intensive. Carpenters from North Africa were known to build Spanish ceilings like this one. As with many other alfarje ceilings that originate in the region, the woodworkers and painters responsible for decorating the ceiling were likely Muslims who opted to stay in the region following the new Christian rule. These Muslim artists who were skilled in and inspired by Islamic ornament were likely hired by a Christian nobleman to create a unique fusion of architecture known as the Mudejar style.