A Porphyry Workshop in Norman Palermo

A Porphyry Workshop in Norman Palermo challenges the long-held assumption that medieval stonemasons lacked the technical skills and tools to carve porphyry, a hard stone. The study identifies five 12th-century porphyry sarcophagi in Sicilian cathedrals, along with other artefacts commissioned by Norman kings, as evidence of a specialized workshop dedicated to porphyry carving. Analysis of these tombs suggests the provenance of both the material and their sculptors, offering new insights into medieval craftsmanship and artistic practices.

Bacile, R. M. (2017). A Porphyry Workshop in Norman Palermo. Romanesque and the Mediterranean, 129–149. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351191074-5