ALTARPIECE OF THE EPIPHANY

HISTORY 

No records exist to tell us when or how this small altarpiece arrived in the town of Artajona in the Province of Navarre. Its dimensions seem to suggest the altarpiece was an ideal size for private rather than public worship. It is generally thought it was acquired to this end by a private citizen who evidently enjoyed elevated social status since the altarpiece was a refined, imported object that was therefore very costly.

The importance of the temple of St. Saturnine located in the walled compound known as "El Cerco" that stands atop the town in Navarre seems to suggest that its origins might point to a donation made to the town and which originally stood in the temple before being relocated to the church when the temple was closed for worship in the 1960's, although there is nothing to confirm this. In any event, the donation was made later than the year 1545, since no mention of it was made in the inventory of properties, goods and furnishings of the churches of St. Saturnine and St. Peter carried out that same year by order of the overseer of the bishopric.