Altar of Baltarga

The Altar of Baltarga, attributed to Mestre Alexandre, is a masterwork of Catalan Romanesque-to-Gothic transitional painting from around 1200, now in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Mestre Alexandre was among the most accomplished painters active in the Pyrenean region, responsible for several altar frontals in churches across Cerdanya. The work reflects the enduring influence of Byzantine iconographic traditions filtered through the distinct visual language of medieval Catalonia.

Painted in egg tempera and gilt on wood panel, the altar frontal features bold outlines, flat color fields, and stylized figures characteristic of the late Romanesque Catalan school. The composition follows the standard frontal arrangement with a central Maiestas or enthroned figure flanked by narrative scenes in compartmentalized registers.