Corpus Christi Procession Room
This small room was the former chapel of the palace and hosts the Corpus Christi procession, from which the room takes its name. This is a significant event on the Catholic Church calendar. The diorama on display is the work of Vicente Julià, known as “Chauve.” This diorama comprises more than 1,200 figures at a 45-mm scale, spanning more than 27 meters. It was created in 1980, and its creator drew inspiration from the watercolors of Fray Bernardo Tarín de Juaneda from the early 20th century. The miniatures depict the most significant figures and symbols of the event, culminating in the spectacular Monstrance. It is a truly unique work of art.
Another highlight of the room is a second beautiful miniature depiction of the Corpus Christi procession by Ewald Kovar’s Wiener Zinnfiguren, which comprises 406 high-quality flat figures.
The room is completed by a large altar with a niche containing a sculpture of the Virgin of the Forsaken, who is the object of great devotion in Valencia. To its right is a sculpture of Saint Anthony the Abbot, or San Antón, also known by Valencians as San Antoni del porquet because he is the patron saint of animals. Finally, it is worth noting that the room’s floor is original, featuring a Nolla mosaic characteristic of the Valencian Modernist style.
Unfortunately—and this is something to keep in mind when looking at the figures—many of the pieces that make up the miniature procession are affected by what is known as “lead sickness,” which consists of a deterioration of the metal’s physical and chemical properties. This condition is visible on the surface of the affected pieces as a whitish substance; it is lead carbonate seeping through the paint on the figures. It is an irreversible process that can only be delayed or prevented, but not eliminated. The restoration workshop at the L’Iber Museum is conducting research and development in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia to prevent and restore our pieces.
