FEDANTIUS

Techniques

Architecture.

Profile and historiographical debate

[Fedancio, Fedantius]

Fedantius or Fedancio is documented acting as a third party witness in Sant Cugat del Vallès in 1006 and 1010. On the first document he signed as Fedancio artificem petre, which makes him an artist with sculpting skills. Four years later, he was documented as architect or master builder: Signum Fedantius, architectus et magisteri edorum.

On the basis of the records in the Cartulary, Adell, Mancho and Falguera have attributed to Fedancio the first building stages of the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès in the 11^th century. This makes him the first known architect working in the monastery. There is other evidence to support this assumption as the record of the sculptor Arnau Cadell who acted as a third party witness in the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès in 1206 and 1207.

Fedancio is one of the finest examples of Romanesque master builders’ training processes from learning the secrets of the craftsmanship (artificem petre), of salvaging stone blocks and carving to the knowledge associated with geometry and structural engineering (architectus et magister edorum). During 11^th and 12^th centuries master builders were recorded as knowledgeable in several construction and sculpting fields as well as other sculpting craftsmanship.

Texto: Carles Sánchez

Works

Construction project of the monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès (11th century).

Patrons

• Abbot Odó of Sant Cugat (985-1010)
• Abbot Guitard of Sant Cugat (1010-1053)

Documentary Sources

• 11 November 1006. Rodolf donates to the monastery of Sant Cugat the castle of Montgat with its tower and other possessions. Between the witnesses there is:  “S + M FEDANCIO, ARTIFICEM PETRE”. Cartulario de Sant Cugat del Vallés, (edition: RIUS I SERRA, II, 1946, doc. 407).
• 3 July 1010. Esteve and some other will executors of Signer donate to the monastery one piece of land located at the entrance of the village of Canals, from the municipality if “d’Aqualonga”. Between the witnesses there is: “S + M FEDANTIUS : ARCHITECTUS ET MAGISTER EDORUM” Cartulario de Sant Cugat del Vallés, (edició: RIUS I SERRA, II, 1946, doc. 428).