SPANISH CULTURE IN THE 16TH CENTURY
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Religion played a fundamental role in all works of art.
To prevent Protestant beliefs from spreading across the Iberian Peninsula, 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
Garcilaso de la Vega was the most important poet.
Novels contained realistic portrayals of daily life
most famous religious authors were mystics who wrote about their spiritual experiences
The tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea
which is attributed to Fernando de Rojas
And Lazarillo de Tormes, by an unknown author.
Art
most important works of art were depictions of religious themes and portraits
In Spanish Renaissance were two styles:
church and the monarchy used art to spread their ideas and values.
Classicist, which strove for harmony and serenity and was influenced by Italian art and Flemish painting
Mannerist, which dominated in the second half of the century.
works were expressive and had a dramatic quality.
Architecture
In the second third of the century, buildings were constructed in a Classicist or Purist style.
Examples
The amount of decoration was reduced and classical elements were accentuated such as columns and pediments.
In the first third of the century, the Plateresque style dominated.
Facade of Salamanca University
San Marcos Hospital in León
Santo Domingo Cathedral on the island Hispaniola
Examples
Jaén Cathedral and El Salvador Church in Úbeda, both by Andrés de Vandelvira.
Granada Cathedral by Diego de Siloé.
The facade of the Alcázar and the Bisagra Gate, both in Toledo, by Alonso de Covarrubias.
Palace of Carlos V in the Alhambra in Granada by Pedro Machuca.
Sculpture
With the adoption of the style of Mannerism, faces of the sculptures became more expressive.
The main artists were:
Most important sculptures in the Classicist style are those by the Italians Leoni Leoni and his son Pompeo Leoni
Juan de Juni, who produced works such as The Entombment of Christ and The Virgen of Anguish.
Alonso Berruguete, who produced works such as The Sacrifice of Isaac and The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.
Painting
From the middle of the century onwards, the influence of Michael Angelo and Mannerism was reflected in the use of elongated figures with dramatic expressions on their faces.
In the last third of the century, the most important artist was El Greco, a Greek artist.
Most important Spanish Renaissance paintings
Those by Juan de Juanes
Ecce Homo and The Last Supper
Worked in Toledo
