San Bartolome of Oikia

The Oikia parish church is easily recognised by its small 18th century bell tower. The inside of the church houses a small altarpiece thought to be the work of Andrés de Araoz, a sculptor from Guipúzcoa who marked a turning point between the plateresque style and “romanismo”, giving rise to a more classic kind of art, devoid of the excessive decoration so typical of plateresque works and heralding the monumental nature of the human figures in “romanista” pieces.

The altarpiece is divided into three vertical sections and two horizontal parts, as well as the base and the crown. The bottom section features Saint Bartholomew in the centre, with two reliefs representing his life on either side. Especially striking is the anatomic study of the saint’s martyrdom, in which he is being flayed alive by his executioners. The upper section is dedicated to the life of Christ, although the central figures have disappeared; on one side Christ appears before Pilate and on the other, He appears before Caiaphas.

The crown depicts God Almighty, framed in a triangular pediment, as was typical of that period. On the base are the figures of Saints Luke and Mark the Evangelists. The church also contains a gothic statue of Christ, currently displayed on the high altar.
 

Altarpiece in San Bartolomé Parish Church