| He is documented as working on the west portal of Tarragona Cathedral between 1277 and 1282, and his activity there has traditionally been identified with the main, central portal of the facade, although the documents could equally well refer to the lateral, Adoration of the Magi portal. The sculpture of the central doorway (the trumeau Virgin and Child, various Apostles on the embrasures, the corbel angels and other related sculpture; reorganized by the Cascalls workshop from 1375) is executed in a refined and elegant Gothic style showing both Italian and French influences, with reminiscences of classicizing sculpture at Reims Cathedral. This work is stylistically related to the tomb of Bishop Bernat de Olivella (d 1287), the prelate who commissioned the portal, in S Tecla la Vella, Tarragona, and to a series of works in the region of Girona: a Calvary, some historical capitals, the Virgin of Bellull and the tomb of Guillem de Montgri, both in Girona Cathedral. Master Bartomeu is described as a mason of Girona Cathedral in the Tarragona documents; this has provided a starting-point for the attribution of these works to him or to his workshop.In 1291 Master Bartomeu was commissioned by King James II of Aragon to make the tomb of Pere II (el Gran) in the Cistercian abbey of Santes Creus. Although it has been much repainted, the sculpture of the tomb suggests a slightly later Gothic style than that associated with the other works attributed to Master Bartomeu. This has caused some scholars to relegate his activity to the lateral (Adoration of the Magi) portal of the facade of Tarragona Cathedral, which would mean that the responsibility for introducing the mature Gothic style into Catalonia must be credited to an unknown master. |
