Buried but not forgotten: Juan Guas’ funerary chapel in San Justo y Pastor, Toledo

Abstract

The late-gothic master mason Juan Guas (active 1453–1496) is renowned for his design of San Juan de los Reyes, the celebrated Toledan monastery initially conceived as a pantheon for the Catholic Monarchs. Guas was also one of very few medieval craftsmen able to commission his own funerary chapel. The chapel is a memorial to himself, and its inscription points to a canon of works for posterity, while the style formally evokes decorative elements typical of far more ostentatious commissions. Yet it was also a site of oblivion, for unlike the royal pantheon he designed, it is a modest, shared space. Indeed, the chapel has been little studied, in striking contrast to Guas’ fame as the Catholic Monarchs’ “starchitect.” This article places Guas’ funerary chapel within the context of his oeuvre and myth. By evaluating Guas’ role in this project, the article explores the self-promotion of a “humble craftsman” through the study of a unique funerary memorial.