Artwork

Cathedral, Santiago, Spain, Portico de la Gloria, details of Doorway (No.2)

Cathedral, Santiago, Spain, Portico de la Gloria, details of Doorway (No.2) is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Charles Thurston Thompson. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This photo zooms in on a doorway inside Santiago, Spain’s cathedral. Taken in 1867, it shows the Portico de la Gloria’s details. Charles Thurston Thompson made it while working for the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Thompson was the museum’s first official photographer. He traveled to Spain and Portugal to shoot art and architecture for study and sale.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

Overview

This 1867 photograph, taken by Charles Thurston Thompson, focuses on architectural details of a doorway within the Portico de la Gloria at Santiago de Compostella Cathedral in Spain.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures intricate details of the doorway, reflecting Thompson's mission to document notable European art and architecture for reference and inspirational purposes.

Technique & Style

As a product of mid-19th-century photographic technology, the photograph demonstrates Thompson's technical skill in capturing detailed, high-contrast images of sculptural and architectural elements.

History & Provenance

Originally part of Thompson's Spanish and Portuguese campaign for the V&A, the photograph was later included in a bound volume published by the Arundel Society, with multiple copies held in the V&A's collection and National Art Library.

Context

Created during Thompson's tenure as the V&A's first Official Museum Photographer (1856-1868), the work exemplifies the museum's early efforts to systematically document and disseminate images of European cultural heritage.