From El Greco to the avant garde. Study of works by Spanish masters (El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo, Goya, Picasso) from the sixteenth to the early twentieth centuries, with particular focus on their historical background. Supplementary visits to the Prado and Reina Sofía museums.
Dirigido a
Curriculum: Art History Elective; IAS Certificate Elective.
An introductory survey course that presents the development of artistic styles in Spain from Renaissance to Contemporary Art, with emphasis on the most important masters of each period: El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, Picasso…as well as techniques and historical context.
II. Course Objectives:
The main objective of the course is to learn to appreciate and love Spanish Art as itself and its influence in Western European Art.
To see how the Art and Architecture of the past relates to the Spain of today.
Through the analysis and discussion of a number of key art works, this course will provide the students with a broad perspective of Spanish Art and will introduce them to the use of a set of critical tools.
The course will be taught by a combination of lectures with slides, power point presentations, and visits to the main museums of Madrid.
Visit to Prado Museum.
Visit to Reina Sofia Museum.
Visit to Sorolla Museum.
III. Course Outline:
1.- Brief Chronology of Spanish Art:
Periods and artistic styles, evolution and development.
2.- Romanesque, Gothic and Islamic Art in Spain and influences on Spanish Modern Art.
3.- Renaissance Art in Spain: XVI century
Arrival of the Habsburg dynasty. Charles V and the Plateresque.
Philip II: El Escorial
4.- The question of Mannerism in sixteenth-century Spanish Art: El Greco
5.- Baroque Art in Spain: the “ Golden Age”: XVII century
General characteristics of Spanish Architecture: civil and religious buildings: palaces and plazas, churches and monasteries
6.- Baroque Spanish Sculpture: General characteristics and individual development.
Gregorio Fernandez in Valladolid. Alonso Cano in Andalucia. The Spanish tradition of polychrome wooden sculpture.
7.- Baroque Spanish Painting: Tenebrism and Naturalism. The Council of Trent and new iconography. Ribera, Zurbaran, Murillo and Velazquez, the master.
8.- The Eighteenth century.
The Bourbon dynasty. Neoclasicism and Rococo.
Goya: evolution of “the first modern painter”: Cartoons, portraits, black paintings
9.- Contemporary Art : XIX, XX centuries
Analysis of nineteenth century Spanish Art:
10.- Twenty Century: Modernism: Gaudí in Barcelona. Luminism: Sorolla
Spanish painters and the evolution and development of “Modern Art”:
Cubism: Picasso and Gris. Surrealism: Dalí and Miró
