From the Nave of the Gospel, we start this short analysis dedicated to the items which are currently in the Church of San Andrés. At the foot of the mentioned nave there is the Chapel of the Good Happening, so called because we can see in it the images of the recent brotherhood whose procession takes place on Holy Tuesday. We can highlight the sculpture of “Our Father Jesus of the Good Happening“, an anonymous work from the 17th century, as well as the other image naming the brotherhood, “Holy Mary of Charity“, from the gouge of Miguel Ángel González Jurado around 1991.

The following sections of the nave have two altars at the front under round arches: the Altar of the Virgin of Pilar and the Altar of Our Lady of the Good Happening. The former, very academic, is made of wood imitating marble, with the image of the “Virgin“, smaller than real size. The latter is an altarpiece made of wood and polychromed in red and gold, and inside its alcove there is the “Virgin of the Good Happening“, a statue depicted with Baby Jesus in her arms.

At the end of the nave, next to the apse, we can see the Altarpiece of the Gospel, an anonymous work from the end of the 18th century. Despite being made quite late, this golden wooden sculpture has features typical of earlier years, such as the use of the Solomon column or its excessive decoration. In the central alcove we can highlight “Our Lady of Angels“, an image from the 18th century. On the side sections, two paintings represent the patron saints of our city, “San Acisclo” and “Santa Victoria“.

Next, we will focus on the Chapel of the Tabernacle, which, as we have previously explained, is the apse of the medieval church. At the end we can see the exceptional altarpiece designed by Juan Fernández del Río in 1739, made in polychrome and golden wood. At its front there is a luxurious Tabernacle with a parted triangular pediment, and above the altar, an anonymous canvas represents the “Last Supper“. Also of great importance are the two canvases belonging to the school of Antonio del Castillo which are displayed here, “The Adoration of the Magi” and “The Descent of Christ“, or the exceptional “Immaculate” by Acisclo Antonio Palomino, great master of masters in painting.

On the right of the chapel there is a small rectangular space covered by a Gothic ribbed vault; it is the Old Tabernacle. In it we can highlight an altarpiece from the 16th century in golden wood. The altarpiece has three sections and three vertical sections, decorated with paintings on board, except for the central vertical section, decorated with sculptures. The central image is the “Virgin of Assumption“, and over her, an exceptional “Calvary” finishes the ensemble.

Similar to the Altarpiece of the Gospel, the Altarpiece of San José was made in the middle of the 18th century. It consists of three vertical sections plus two more sections, and we can stand out the use of estipite and Solomon column. In the centre there is an image of “San José with Baby Jesus” carrying the blooming stick. On both sides, there are representations of different saints and, closing the ensemble, an illusion painting of “Whitsun“.

Attached to the nave of the Epistle there is the Chapel of Baptism, a small square space covered by a groin vault. Inside we can highlight a white marble baptistery which has the date 1793 carved inside. Two canvases finish the decoration of the room, a “Baptism of Christ” belonging to the school from Córdoba and dated from the end of the 18th century, and a “Penitent Magdalene“, an anonymous work from the 17th century.

In the Nave of the Epistle, there is the Altar of Souls, covered by a great round arch. Made in polychrome and golden wood, it has a canvas representing the Virgin helping the souls go out of Purgatory. The scene is divided in three parts: the Purgatory at the bottom, where all kinds of characters can be seen (Kings, Bishops, Popes…), in the centre the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels and saints, and closing the composition, the Trinity between Saint Andrew and Saint Peter.

At the foot of the nave of the Gospel, there is the Chapel of Hope, with the images after which the Brotherhood of Hope is named, whose procession takes place in the evening of Palm Sunday. Both images, “Jesus of the Sorrows” and “Holy Mary of Hope“, were made by the religious sculptor from Córdoba Juan Martínez Cerrillo.

If you wish to know the Fernandine Churches, do not hesitate to hire one of our guided tours. We will pay special attention to the Church of San Andrés. We are experts in the interpretation of the historical heritage from Córdoba. If you have chosen to do sightseeing in Córdoba, choose a high quality option, choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.