ALTARPIECE OF THE HOLY INFANT'S CHILDHOOD

HISTORY 

These reliefs are on exhibit in the Diocesan Museum, Bilbao since 2004, when they were ceded by the Basque Museum to whose collection they used to belong. They form part of the museum's collection since 1921 (with the exception of a single fragment acquired in 1936) when they were acquired from private individuals, as may be seen in the corresponding official document that states that they came from the Parish of Santa Catalina de Gizaburuaga, despite the fact that, at least from the year 1899, there was no mention of them in the parochial inventory.

It seems improbable that this was where they originally came from since, when the transaction took place, Gizaburuaga did not have its own church. Instead, it had a modest hermitage that was trying to separate itself from the Parish of Lekeitio, something it did not achieve until 1519. Since its iconography does not match the patron saint of the temple, it may be dismissed as having formed part of the church's original main altarpiece. Furthermore, given the work's considerable dimensions, neither may it be considered as having belonging to a less important altarpiece.