MUSEUM  OF  THE FAIRS     

Virtual tour 3D

The principal objective of the Museum of the Fairs, in  Medina del Campo, is the conservation and permanent exhibition of the cultural heritage of this town. It takes the world of the large Fairs held in the 15th and 16th centuries as its main theme, and shows their national and international importance as well as their decisive influence in the creation of modern banking. Our desire is to reflect the importance that these commercial activities had, and still have, for the economy, culture and art in our society.

The exhibits have come from the Simón Ruiz Foundation, created by this merchant banker in 1597; from churches and convents in Medina del Campo; and from several other cultural institutions within our community. Among the exhibits can be seen artistic works of the highest quality, as well as historical pieces and documents of great interest; most of them previously unknown to the general public.

Sir Fernando de Antequera is known as the founder of the Fairs of Medina del Campo, during the first decade of the l5th century. In 1421 his wife, Leonor de Alburquerque, signed the first Lodging Ordinances, through which we know where the stall-holders sold their commodities in the streets of commercial centre, at that time totally colonnaded. The continual support offered by successive monarchs was patently obvious throughout the century, and peaked in 1491 with its recognition as "General Fair of the Kingdom" by the Catholic Monarchs.

The annual fairs took place in May and October. At first, mainly the tax-free sale of market products; but in time they became principally meetings of financiers. Together with the Castilian merchants, many agents from the large European "houses" came to Medina to do business. In this way, the main purpose of the early fairs passed to businessmen and money-changers who endorsed credits, arranged large contracts, ordered payments, and above all, "bill of exchange".

Illustrating this first part of the museum, a set of plaster-works and mosaics originating from the Royal Palace is displayed. The Palace was enlarged both by Fernando de Antequera, as well as by the Catholic Monarchs. Additionally, various documents referring to the principal buildings and institutions of Medina are shown: a public outcry for the construction of the third town wall and the Papal Bull for the establishment of the Collegiate Church, together with the official Seal of its Chapter

First the wool, then the cloth trade, silk, linen, lace and embroidery made Medina del Campo a great textile centre. The importance of its wool market stemmed from it being a central meeting point of itinerant merchants, originating from the northem plateau who traded the wool wholesale. Medina came, over a period of time, to have the lion's share of the market with respect to manufactured products.

The following examples are exhibited in the Museum representative sets of Castilian, Flemish and Italian laces of this period, 2 pieces of the extraordinary triad of the Collegiate Church: embroidery in gold, silks and velvet, and the Royal Standard of Castile worked in crimson damask, which was used by the town at the proclamation of a new monarch.

THE ART TRADE

During the 16th Century, there was a brisk trade in works of art. Numerous imported pieces that are still preserved in many Castilian towns and cities are evidence of this. Originating from Flanders and the Low Countries, and imported via the Cantabrian ports, the trading of large shipments of sumptuous objects made the Medina del Campo Fairs one of the most important centres on the Iberian peninsula. Members of the nobility and the church hierarchy desired to purchase innovative works of art; and both the middle classes and the religious communities also sought to acquire artistic works (works of a religious theme were particularly sought after). Additionally "limited editions" of luxurious devotional works of art of the Flemish style were produced in Castilian workshops.

Beneath the great Mudéjar armour that is displayed in the old "Greater Chapel", one is able to contemplate extraordinary artistic works, all of them linked to the great ancient fairs: reliefs imported from the region of Brabant, and painted tables originating from Antwerp, Bruges or Brussels; as well as Flemish-style paintings carried out in Castilian workshops, which are representative of the local art.

We should also emphasise two masterpieces that dominate this space: the relief of "The Piety" by Juan de Juni (belonging to the collection that the money-dealer Francisco de Dueñas commissioned in 1575). And, from more than a century earlier: the impressive "praying" sculpture in polychromatic alabaster -the first of its type -given by Bishop Lope de Barrientos, a great benefactor of his birthplace and a key figure during the reign of Juan II.

The Silversmith’s Craft

During the second half of the 16th Century, Medina del Campo was one of the principal Castilian centres of the silversmith's and jeweller's crafts. Tradesmen from Medina del Campo had workshops in the Jeweller's sidewalk of the Plaza Mayor and also in Silver Street adjacent. They took pride in an excellent technique, which is confirmed in the pieces that have been passed down to us, along with the Town Coat of Arms. The design of the Coat of Arms is still used by the Town. From old documents, we know that apx. 100 artists were based in Medina del Campo towards the middle of the 16th Century. Merchants and tradesmen in silver and bronze from several countries, also came to the town at Fair times to make and sell their works of undoubted quality, destined for liturgical use as well as domestic or civilian pieces. The exhibits in this part of the museum emphasise the great collection of the Collegiate Church of San Antolin: The reliquary cross, gilded by the Town Council in 1562, originated from an Italian workshop and was donated to the church by its first great patron, Bishop Juan Ruiz de Medina.

"La vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades".
Medina del Campo 1554. Impr. Mateo &  Francisco del Canto.

THE BOOK TRADE

During the 16th Century, the book trade in the kingdom of Castile was developed in two large centres: Salamanca and Medina del Campo. These two cities dealt respectively with the production and distribution. Medina del Campo was the great trading centre where the most important book merchants traded. It also houses large paper deposits. Because of this, the town became the most important centre of works printed abroad.

There were 3 distinct phases in the trade. The 1st period of a temporary character (from the end of the 15th Century and up 1540); a second phase occurred with the coming of "mobile book sellers" who perambulated at the fairs, when trade blossomed (1540-1590). In the 3rd phase, booksellers from Salamanca, Seville, Antwerp, Lyon, Venice etc. traded on a permanent basis on the site of the fairs. Finally, trade decline in the last decade of the 16th Century.

With regard to the printing trade, Medina del Campo didn't achieve the international recognition of the book distribution trade. However, it was on a par with the traditional printing cities, such as Valladolid, Burgos or Alcalá de Henares. Some originals from the 16th Century are exhibited in the museum, representative of the books printed in Medina del Campo as well as those from the large European centres: Antwerp, Lyon, Cologne, Venice etc. Some silver bindings are also exhibited and a print series of Flemish, French and Italian artists dated in the 16th and 17th centuries, illustrating hermits and saints, an episode of the revolt of the Batavians in Germania Inferior (69-70 AD), the King David brings the Ark to Jerusalem, an Annunciation and a view of the town of Valladolid.

Here we recall the enormous variety of goods and trades related to the Medina Fairs. Therefore, in this group of exhibits are exhibited works of various types that emphasise the overseas trade: ivory from the East and Japanese Art, together with that of a closer origin, such as the tiles and pharmacy jars. Or, those things made by the itinerant craftsmen, such as the bells and other items of Flemish origin. Of central European origin are the reliquary chests, the hand bells from Malinas, or the "ritual plates" of dinanderies type.

The money business and the financial market, of loans with interest, are economic activities that developed greatly at the Medina fairs and they made the town internationally important.

The "bill of exchange" was the most usual form of loan during the 15th and 16th Centuries. Although we are able to look for remote antecedents, the use of this trading device was commenced and consolidated in the middle of the 13th Century. During the 15th Century it was in general use, and it was greatly developed in Fair of Medina del Campo.

Thanks to the legacy of the merchant banker Simón Ruiz, and to the unceasing efforts of the Foundation that bears his name, many exhibits are available to us. In addition to numerous works of art in other sections, his portrait and that of his 2nd wife from Juan Pantoja de la Cruz's school; arks, chests, personal and mercantile documents from his extraordinary archives -the most important of their type; as well as his will, fair books, chairs, permissions, letters, bills of exchange, etc.

Weights and measures

One of the basic instruments to be able to trade products, is a reliable system of weights and measures. The disparity in the manner of measuring and weighing, and the variety of standards and fractions, was a constant concern. There were attempts to regulate through numerous official arrangements, especially dating from the epoch of "The Wise King", the "fieles" and the "almotacén" were to be the council officials charged with supervising the weights and measures, as well as checking the official prices in the local market.

Pieces of great interest are displayed, such as the collection of "jetons" token or counters, exchange brokers scales, nesting cups weights and also a complete iron weights game from the 16th Century, marked with the Coat of Arms of Medina del Campo and possibly belonging to officials.

The same situation occurs with regard to the diversity of coins. Thanks to the Royal Decree of Medina del Campo, issued by the Catholic Monarchs in June 1497, the "double duchy" or "excelente de la granada", a gold money was created. This enabled the monetary systems in all the kingdoms of Spain to be unified, so that, in time a unity was achieved in place of diversity.

THE OLD CHURCH OF SAINT MARTIN

This ancient church, as well as the adjoining hospital of St Peter of the Arches, was established in 1512 by courtiers of the Catholic Monarchs: Pedro de Ribera and María de Medina. As in their monumental palace, the facade contains both of their Coats of Arms.

The church dates from the first decade of the 16th Century. On its principal facade is a semi-circular with dressed keystones, flanked by granite columns that rest on scroll-shaped brackets. In its interior is a great victory arch, repaired in 1598, that separates the ancient greater chapel from the central nave. It is covered by a vault built in 1801. Another space opens off the 2nd section of the nave which was the chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption or "de los Palomares". It was founded in the first years of the 17th Century.

The greater chapel is covered by an extraordinary Mudéjar octagonal framework supported on "fan vaulting" at each corner. It is composed of eight inclined segments and a horizontal portion over. Overlaid are a number of tape-like wooden pieces forming geometric figures, including spoked wheels.

THE MUSEUM OF THE FAIRS FOUNDATION

The “Museum of the Fairs Foundation”, constituted in March 2001, is the institution that arranges the numerous museum activities, amongst them temporary exhibitions, "pieces of the month", scientific and general publications, investigative projects, educational action programmes, courses and monographic seasons etc.

Additionally, the Foundation has been charged by the Medina Town Council to organise the Town Archives, in which important background documents generated by the town and its surroundings date from the 15th Century; books of council resolutions, concessionary letters, censuses, ordinances of the Town and of the different trades guides, and a long etcetera of documents of special relevance, not only for local history, but also for that of the country. Some of the most significant documents are shown in one of the Archive rooms.

Additionally, the Foundation is arranging a specialised library on the diverse aspects of the world of Fairs and Markets, as in the history and heritage of Medina del Campo. Also there is an ample collection of magazines and newspapers, various archive documents, pictures and photographic history, given by individuals and collaborating companies, and for public use.

Translation by Derek Burnside