Mateo De Compostela

Place: Santiago De Compostela

Biography:

Maestro Mateo, also known as Mateo de Compostela, was a sculptor and architect who worked in medieval Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula during the second half of the twelfth century. He is best known for his work on the Portico de la Gloria of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which he began in 1168 and completed in 1211. He was also responsible for the Stone choir of Master Mateo of the cathedral in 1200, which was later torn down in 1603. Maestro Mateo is believed to have received his training in France and to have had a long career behind him before he began working on the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Very little information remains about his early training, but it is thought that he may have worked on other churches along the Way of Santiago before he came to Santiago de Compostela.