Técnicas y motivos decorativos en la azulejería medieval y moderna en la Alhambra

Abstract

Uno de los aspectos artísticos por los que destaca la Alhambra es, sin duda, por la decoración de sus paredes. Se ha señalado desde hace tiempo que desde el punto de vista estructural los palacios estaban construidos con materiales y técnicas sencillas. Suele ser habitual que sus muros estén construidos con piedra (mampostería), ladrillo o tierra mezclada con cal (tapial). Si embargo, el recubrimiento de estas paredes sí que otorgaba libertad creativa a los constructores de la Alham bra. Los muros internos de las distintas salas alhambreñas aparecen profusamente decorados con piezas de cerámica vidriada en zócalos o yeserías de distinto tipo sobre ellos. No faltan tampoco los pavimentos solados con cerámica o la aplicación de piezas cerámicas decoradas en escalones o, esta vez menos frecuente, en techos y cubiertas.

One of the artistic aspects for which the Alhambra stands out is undoubtedly the decoration of its walls. It has long been noted that from a structural point of view the palaces were built with simple materials and techniques. It is common for their walls to be built of stone (masonry), brick or earth mixed with lime (tapial). However, the covering of these walls did give the builders of the Alhambra creative freedom. The internal walls of the various rooms of the Alhambra are profusely decorated with glazed ceramic pieces in plinths or plasterwork of different types on them. There is also no shortage of ceramic flooring or the application of decorated ceramic pieces on steps or, less frequently, on ceilings and roofs. The aim of this work is to carry out a preliminary study of the techniques and decorative motifs of the materials in the Museum's collection, distinguishing the different groups of ceramic pieces used as wall and floor coverings from the Nasrid period, when the first ceramic tile collections are documented, to the modern period. This chapter, therefore, should be understood as an initial, concise analysis, as the volume of material housed in the Museum is extraordinarily large, and the institution and researchers are strongly encouraged to promote and undertake detailed analyses of these materials, as they are of great interest.