Master of Taüll

A fresco painter from the 12th century, this anonymous artist decorated the walls of two small churches in a remote Catalan valley. Look for the bold reds and blues in Apse of Santa Maria de Taüll, where Christ sits framed by saints and a rainbow mandorla. Compare this to the calmer Peacocks drinking from a chalice beside it, where birds dip their beaks into a golden cup.

Tap into the apse to see how the figures float on gold leaf, as if lit from behind.