8.The Renaissance in Spain

In Spain. The Renaissance began late, as the Gothic art wasstill the favourite one in the 15th century. However, 15th

century monarchs bought Flemish and Italian Renaissance art.

In the 16th century, Italian and Flemish influences introducedthe Renaissance style.

8.1. Painting

• Spanish Renaissance artists were concerned with light, colour and perspective, and the focused on religious themes.

• In Valencia there was the strongest Italian influence. We can highlight the Works of Juan de Juanes.

• However, Doménikos Theotokópoulos “El Greco” (1541-1614), Greek painter, was the genius of the Spanish Renaissance. He settled in

Toledo and produced very original masterpieces belonging to “late Renaissance” or mannerism.

Alfonso V de Aragón portrait, Juan de Juanes

La santa cena, Juan de Juanes

Two painting representing “La anunciación” by El Greco (c. 1570 and c. 1597)

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, by El Greco

View of Toledo, by El Greco The visión of St. John, by El GrecoThe nobleman with his hand on thechest, by El Greco

8.2. ArchitectureSpanish Renaissance architecturebegan at the beginning of the16th century and was developedin three stages:

A) The Plateresque style:introduced new decorativeelements to Gothicbuilkdings. Its name comesfrom the reliefs, similar to thework of silversmiths.

E.g.: University of Salamanca,Hospital de los Reyes Católicos deSantiago de Compostela

B) The Classical style was modelled on classical architecture (columns,lintels and gables)

E.g.: Palace of Charles V in Granada (1528), by Pedro Machuca

C) The Herrerian style wascharacrerised by its lack ofornamentation, straight lines and cubic volumes. Its name comes from the architect Juan de Herrera, whose mastyerpiece was theMonastery of El Escorial

8.3. Sculpture and religious imagery

The Spanish school ofsculpture wanted to capture religious sentiment and represent spirituality.

It produced manyaltarpieces, funeralmonuments and religiouspoychome woodenimaginnery.

Main sculptors: Bartolomé Ordóñez, Alonso Berruguete and Juan de Juni

Burial of Juana I and Felipe El Hermoso, by B. Ordóñez

Santo entierro, by Juan de JuniEcce Homo, by A. Berruguete