VERGÓS, Rafael

Techniques

Tempera on wood with stucco reliefs and gilded with gold leaf

Profile and historiographical debate

He was the son of Jaume Vergós II and Caterina, brother of Pau, brother in law of Joan and Climent Domènec and he got married with Beatriu Sunyer in 1497. The works of the Vergós brothers show an outstanding taste for realism, monumental figures and the treatment of brocades, following closely huguetian formulas. This is the reason why they have come to be considered the main followers of Jaume Huguet. The trace that this master left on Pau and Rafael Vergós has led to the idea that they have received part of their training in the workshop of Jaume Huguet; a master that, according to the preserved documents, maintained a close friendship with his father, Jaume Vergós II.

The relationship between the two families has led some authors (POST 1966, GUDIOL- ALCOLEA 1974)  to consider his participation in several works which are attributed to the workshop of Huguet, as the altarpiece of the convent of Sant Agustí de Barcelona, the altarpiece of Saint Tecla and Saint Sebastian for the chapel of the cloister of the Cathedral, the altarpiece of Saint Justa and Saint Rufina of Lliça d'Amunt, the altarpiece of Saint Peter of Reixac or the altarpiece of the church of Peregrinació de la Verge of Bellulla in Canovelles.

On the other hand, documentation certifies the collaboration of Pere Alemany in works that were contracted by Raphael Vergós, such as the altarpiece of the Verge del Roser for Santa Maria la Rodona de Vic, the altarpiece of Saint Jerome of the Valle Hebrón, the altarpiece of Sant Martí de Teià, the altarpiece of the monastery of les Jonqueres of Barcelona, the altarpiece of Sant Miquel de Calella de la Costa or the organ doors of Santa Maria del Mar, all of them made in the last decade of the fifteenth century.

It therefore appears that Rafael Vergós, like his brother Pau, would have remained faithful to his master, Jaume Huguet, with whom he would have continued to work throughout his life. A collaboration that he would have juggled with personal works that he executed with the help of Pere Alemany, to whom he was also close.

Works

• Organ’s doors of Santa Maria del Mar (ca. 1486)
• Altarpiece of the Verge del Roser for Santa Maria la Rodona de Vic (1492)
• Altarpiece of Saint Jerome of the Vall d’Hebrón (1497)
• Altarpiece of Sant Martí de Teià (1497)
• Altarpiece of Sant Miquel de Calella de la Costa (1498)
• Altarpiece of the monastery of las Jonqueres of Barcelona (?)
• Altarpiece of Saint Stephen Protomartyr of Granollers (1500)

Documentary Sources

• December 9^th, 1497 - Nuptials between Rafael Vergós and Beatriu Sunyer. Archive of the Cathedral of Barcelona, Llibre d’Esposalles 1497-1499
• January 31^th, 1492 - Contract signed by Rafael Vergós and Pere Alemany to paint the altarpiece dedicated to the Verge del Roser for the Chapel of la Rodona de Vic Archivo Capitular de Vic. Curia fumada, manual XI-XII, from the notary Benet de Prat; 1490-1494
• November 25^th, 1495 – He contracts the finishing of the “Pelaires” altarpiece for the convent of Sant Agustí de Barcelona after his brother, Pau Vergós, has died. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Barcelona, Protocolos notariales de Barcelona, notary Bartomeu Costa, man. 16
• February 11^th, 1497 - Contract signed by Rafael Vergós and Pere Alemany to paint the altarpiece dedicated to Saint Mary for the Parish of Sant Martí de Teià. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Barcelona, Protocolos notariales de Barcelona, notary Marc Busquets, man. 5
• February 15^th, 1498 - Contract signed by Rafael Vergós and Pere Alemany to paint the altarpiece of Calella de la Costa dedicated to Saint Michael. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Barcelona, Protocolos notariales de Barcelona, notary Carles Mir, man. 2
• March 4^th, 1500 - Settlement signed by Jaume Vergós II and Rafael Vergós to finish the altarpiece of Saint Stephen Protomartyr of Granollers, that had left unfinished Pau Vergós after his death. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Barcelona, Protocolos notariales de Barcelona, notary Pere Triter, man. 12
• March 20^th, 1497 - Bill payment for Saint Jerome altarpiece of the Vall d’Hebrón that Jaume Huguet had left unfinished. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Barcelona, Protocolos notariales de Barcelona, notary Gil Gerard, man. 5
  

Text: Gemma Malé