Catalan Museum Holds Major Romanesque Mural Collection

Why this is here: The MNAC in Barcelona houses what is considered the most important collection of Romanesque mural paintings in the world, assembled through the practice of strappo.

Gemma Ylla-Català, a conservator at the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) in Barcelona, Spain, led a visit detailing how the strappo technique built their collection. In the mid-19th century, Italy developed strappo, a method of carefully removing murals from walls to preserve them. Early in the 20th century, carpenters specializing in this process moved to Catalonia and then into the Spanish Pyrenees.

This practice sparked change in small churches, but also involved loss. Historian Milagros Guardia explains how the valley of Boí in Lleida removed murals from its temples to prevent theft. Residents experienced pain as these artworks left their original locations.

The museum now holds a significant collection, yet questions remain about fully explaining and sharing the history of these removed masterpieces. The podcast “La memoria en ruinas” explores this complex heritage. Work continues to understand the full impact of strappo on Catalonia’s artistic history.