Entre la tradición y la reforma: a vueltas de nuevo con las portadas de San Isidoro de León

Abstract

Mostly all researchers agree in confirming that both southern portals of San Isidoro de León are likely to be the first existing examples of great romanesque portals in present Castilla y León, containing in their structures sculptural elements such as tympans, capitals, wallreliefs and metopas. But even if this is true, it is no less that since the first decades of the 20th century their chronology has been afected by a complex framework of stylistic relationships taking place both sides of the Pyrenees; a discussion influenced more by jingoistic interests rather than by an artistic and archaeological point of view. A global analysis on the historical, social, political and religious background involving the construction of the basilica, adding to it all the information provided by contemporary sources and allowing the building structures to speak for themselves, may provide us with a different conclusion.