RENAISSANCE painting in Spain

The Renaissance was a European cultural movement that arose in Italy around 1400 and that marks the passage from medieval to modern times. A time when man became the measure of all things, bringing with it a cultural transformation within the arts and sciences. Thus, reason becomes the main source of knowledge, investigating and reflecting to reach the truth.

This movement was introduced in Spain by the hand of the Valencian school of painting during the 16th century, presenting a series of peculiarities that we will study in this lesson from unPROFESOR.com on the Renaissance painting in Spain.

It is known as spanish renaissance painting to the painting made throughout the century XVI in the territories of the Crown of Castile and in those of Aragon, although its take-off and rooting was faster in the latter due to its strong links with Italy.

Thus, Italianism took longer to arrive Castile, surviving for a longer time the flamingo style, a style widespread throughout the lands of the Castilian crown during the time of the Catholic Monarchs.

Between the main characteristics of Renaissance painting in Spain stand out:

• An almost absolute predominance of religious theme, being almost anecdotal the allegorical, historical, mythological themes, as well as the landscapes and still lifes.
• abound the Pictures, especially the court portrait.
• There is interest for reflect volume and perspective.
• In addition, painters are interested in showing the character psychology and landscape details.
• Many works were imported and there was the presence of Italian artists in the country, as well as Spanish artists in Italy, such is the case of Pedro Berruguete.
• It was remarkable the influence of Raphael, Miguel Angel, Leonard and the Venetian school of painting.
• The oil on panel It was the most used technique, although in the last third of the 16th century the canvas became popular.

The stages of the Renaissance in Spain are:

1. Plateresque, very ornamental and with Lombard and Florentine influence
2. The Greco-Roman period, during the reign of Carlos I
3. Herrerian, more focused on the structural than the ornamental.

Be that as it may, Elizabethan or Flamboyant Gothic survived until well into the 16th century, with Quattrocento art triumphing in Spain just as it was entering its decline in Italy. In this way, the Spanish Renaissance acquired a very particular character, becoming known as Plateresque.