Aspectos para el estudio histórico-artístico de la imaginería exenta de la catedral de Plasencia

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Abstract

This paper offers a comprehensive historical and artistic analysis of the freestanding religious sculpture preserved in the Cathedral of Plasencia, covering a broad chronological span from the late twelfth century to the nineteenth century. The study contextualizes these works within the processes of Christian reconquest, territorial repopulation, and the consolidation of ecclesiastical structures, emphasizing the role of sculpture as a devotional and symbolic medium. The authors examine both imported artworks, brought by military campaigns, bishops, or external workshops, and sculptures produced by local artisans, highlighting the coexistence of late Romanesque traditions and early Gothic forms. Particular attention is devoted to Marian imagery, which constitutes the core of the collection. Through detailed iconographic and stylistic analysis of works such as the Virgin with Book, Virgin and Child, Virgin of the Tabernacle, and Virgin of Forgiveness, the study explores their formal characteristics, materials, symbolic meanings, and devotional significance. The article underscores the religious, social, and political functions of these images, linking them to military orders, popular piety, and diocesan identity, and stresses the importance of this sculptural ensemble as a key heritage testimony of medieval art in Extremadura.