Paintings confiscated from monasteries and convents affected by the dissolution of the monasteries in Loja (Granada)

Abstract

The Napoleonic invasion of Spain and the seizure of church properties are the two political events of 19th century Spain which have had the most deleterious effect on our artistic heritage. Ali over Spain, a great number of buildings and movable items were lost or suffered irreparable damage. In other cases, paintings, sculptures, silverwork, scientific instruments, public and prívate collections and libraries were brought together in the provincial capitals to be reorganized in collections in future provincial museums. This paper discusses two pieces of documentary evidence of Property confiscation in Loja. The first shows the procedures used to seize the paintings and library collections in the three monasteries of the town, while the second is an inventory of items which were moved from the monasteries to Granada.