The Renaissance in Spain
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The period of the late Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula was given by a moment of splendor both in the field of foreign and internal policies and in the field of the arts. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will focus on the Renaissance in Spain, in which we will make a perfect summary to assimilate the main characteristics of the period. For this reason we must comment on the beginning and end dates of the Renaissance in Spain, these being 1492-1580 (they are dates of approximation, because in art we will always find that the fluctuation between the old and new currents occurs in a period of about 5-10 years). Keep reading and you will discover a summary of the Renaissance in Spain in order to better understand this period in history.
Index
- The antecedents of the Renaissance in Spain
- Characteristics of Spanish Renaissance painting
- Architecture in the Spanish Renaissance
- The Renaissance humanities
- Medicine in Spain during the Renaissance
- Mathematics in the Spanish Renaissance
- Other disciplines developed during the Renaissance
The antecedents of the Renaissance in Spain.
As we have mentioned, the dated 1492 is usually the appropriate one to talk about beginning of the RenaissanceAlthough it is true that the first ideas from the Italian kingdoms had already been entering the Crown of Aragon.
The content of this historical period is found in a new focus given on the plastic arts, literature or science, collecting or compiling the knowledge of classical antiquity. But the introduction of these new arts, especially in the plastic arts, we will find them in a very late due to the roots in the court of the Mudejar or Gothic arts, in this way the art of Quattroccento triumphs in Spain when he was finishing in Italy.
In the same way we will find a fusion with the Iberian feeling, producing the appearance of the Plateresque (which we will comment on later).
In this other lesson from a TEACHER we will discover the main characteristics of the Renaissance.
Characteristics of Spanish Renaissance painting.
We start this summary of the Renaissance in Spain speaking of the plastic arts. We will find an oil painting, which followed a new element, such as perspective, in which the figures were not piled up, to give more amplitude. There will be a study of the anatomical figure by the artists, to give more reality to their works. We will therefore find representations of Roman ruins, scenes from the life of Jesus Christ, ...
The most important painters for the time were: El Greco, Pedro Berruguete, Juan de Juanes and Alejo Fernández.
In this video you will discover what is the renaissance.
Architecture in the Spanish Renaissance.
The characteristics of Renaissance architecture in Spain, we can divide it into three:
- Plateresque: combines Italian ideas with the tradition of Gothic in Spain. The name of it comes from the excessive ornament on the facades (they recall the work of the silversmiths). A building from this period will be the Palacio de Santa Cruz de Valladolid (the first Renaissance building in Spain).
- Purism: in this we will find a decorative austerity (if we find decorations, they would be very specific elements of classical inspiration). This takes place in the middle of the 16th century, as an example we will put the facade of the Cathedral of Granada by Diego de Siloé.
- Herrerian style: the constructive elements will predominate and there will be an absence in the decoration. We will also find the incorporation of mannerist elements from Italy, although they will be fused with Castilian sobriety. this style will last until the 17th century. The most important example will be the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial.
The Renaissance humanities.
An important element within this new era that we are going to find will be the first Castilian Grammar by Antonio de Nebrija in 1492 being the first work that treated a vulgar language.
Within the humanities, poetry will have a very special place, finding Garcilaso de la Vega as the official introducer of the new Italian currents (the hendecasyllable verses, sonnet, triplets ...).
But without any doubt the novel will be the most characteristic element of the Renaissance in Spain of this section, as it will be the moment of the appearance of the Celestinaby Fernando de Rojas or the life ofLazarillo de Tormes (unknown author), among other authors such as Lope de Rueda or Francisco de la Torre.
Within the humanities, we are going to incorporate asceticism and mysticism, as it was also the moment by which we will find quite important Spanish authors in these fields:
- Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582): his most important work will be the Path to Perfection, in which he tells us how to achieve it. It is written in rather "vulgar" language.
- Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591): one of the great Spanish humanists, made the spiritual Canticle, which is perfectly structured and written unlike the previous example.
Medicine in Spain during the Renaissance.
Before the arrival of the Renaissance to the world, medicine was a theoretical science, but after the arrival of this we will find the first autopsies in the Universities, in that way it became what it is now, more practice.
We will find the first sketches and drawings on human anatomy, both muscular and organ,... The flamenco Andrés Vesalio (1514-1564) was the doctor of Carlos I and Felipe II, he made the work called De humani corporis fabrica (1543).
Within Spain we will find relevant doctors such as:
- Miguel Servet: described the pulmonary circulation (1546).
- Francisco López Villalobos: made a treatise on syphilis.
- Luis Mercado: treatise on surgery (1549) and another on the plague (1598).
Mathematics in the Spanish Renaissance.
Juan de Herrera in 1582 founded the Royal Academy of Mathematics of Madridwhich lasted almost two centuries. In them mathematical studies on cosmography and navigation (very important elements during the period of the Spanish discoveries and later cartography) were carried out. Its main objective was the dissemination of the teachings, giving us the idea that in Spain there was interest in the new sciences.
Within this school we will find the dissemination of the teachings of the classics, which had been translated mostly in the old school Toledo Translators, from the Muslim and Greek texts.
Other disciplines developed during the Renaissance.
In addition to these disciplines that we have indicated, there were others that also developed during the Renaissance in Spain, such as the following:
The geography
Due to the new discoveries such as America, we will find the need to leave it on paper, in that way we will begin to find a series of maps made on the new and old lands, the first being that of Juan de la Cosa in 1500 (first map showing the coasts American). Little by little the coordinates would improve and the elements drawn on them were becoming more and more truthful.
Astronomy
Within this we have to talk about Nicolás Copernicus and his heliocentric theory, which was collected in his work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (1543). We will find that in most European kingdoms there were strong condemnations, while the University of Salamanca in 1561 had it as an optional reading and in 1594 it was mandatory. It must be said that in 1616 Copernicus was condemned by the Church and with it his work.
Physics and chemistry
Domingo de Soto, in his work Supero Octo Books Physicorum Aristotelis (1551) He spoke of what a falling body experienced, that is, a uniformly accelerated movement. According to later European authors, it was the basis for Newton's study of gravity.
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