Master of Cabestany

He was identified in the 1930s after the discovery of several pieces remarkable for their workmanship and their style; chief among these was the tympanum of the church in Cabestany in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, from which he received his name.

The high technical quality of the carving, combined with the originality of the theme drew the interest of scholars of medieval art, who began to compare the sculpture with other known works.

They concluded that the carver was an as-yet unknown figure, dubbed the "Master of Cabestany", who was responsible for sculpting capitals, sarcophagi, and corbels that may still be seen in various religious structures.

Also, in 1993, after consultation with the inspector general of historic monuments, the town created a scientific committee composed of eminent French and European figures to select which of the Master's sculptures they found the most important and most representative.

In 1994 the town acquired an old winemaking cave with over 1,100 metres of surface area; this has served as the home for a center devoted to Romanesque sculpture since June 2004.