6.SPANISH CULTURE IN THE 16TH CENTURY
Spanish culture was greatly influenced by the Counter-Reformation.
Felipe II impeded access to its doctrines in the following ways:
Books printed outside the Peninsula were not allowed into the country.
Spaniards were not allowed to study in other countries.
Literature
The most famous religious authors were mystics who wrote about their spiritual experiences, such as Saint Teresa of Jesus and Saint John of the Cross.
Art
Garcilaso de la Vega was the most important poet.
The church and the monarchy used art to spread their ideas and values.
In the Spanish Renaissance there were two styles:
Mannerist
Classicist
Architecture
In the first third of the century, the Plateresque style dominated.
In the second third of the century, buildings were constructed in a Classicist or Purist style
The amount of decoration was reduced and classical elements were accentuated such as columns and pediments. The main examples are:
Granada Cathedral by Diego de Siloé
Jaén Cathedral and El Salvador Church in Úbeda
The Palace of Carlos V in the Alhambra in Granada by Pedro Machuca.
The facade of the Alcázar and the Bisagra Gate, both in Toledo, by Alonso de Covarrubias.
Sculpture
The most important sculptures in the Classicist style are those by the Italians Leoni Leoni and his son Pompeo Leoni
Painting
The most important Spanish Renaissance paintings are those by Juan de Juanes, such as Ecce Homo and The Last Supper.