Summary: | As with other Romanesque artists, the figure of Master Esteban, artisan in the service of Bishop Pedro de Roda at Pamplona Cathedral in the early 12th century, has been the subject of conflicting, and sometimes even disparaging, interpretations. This article covers certain aspects of his work as an architect. It begins with a review of the documentary sources relating to the master and his circumstances. It then examines certain Romanesque architectural remains (for the most part utterly ignored) within the current Gothic structure of the cathedral, which were probably part of the construction planned and directed by Esteban. Lastly, it explores his hypothetical role as urban planner in designing Pamplona’s ancient borough of San Saturnino, which constitutes one likely aspect of his professional career that has never been considered.
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