This etching of the Church of Santa María la Mayor, a 14th-century Muslim mosque in Spain, is by American artist, John Taylor Arms, Jr. While serving in World War I, Arms fell in love with European architecture, especially Gothic cathedrals. He is known for his unsurpassed attention to architectural detail, often achieved with the aid of a magnifying glass and sewing needle.

Arms was known for his medieval architectural etchings that combined precise realism with a sense of soaring spirituality. He believed that Gothic architecture was man's greatest achievement, uniting spiritual and aesthetic values, and was best known for his renderings of gargoyles and European churches. He was remarkably prolific, considering that he worked slowly and deliberately and spent much time traveling, writing, and lecturing.