The Spanish Golden Age is recognized for the prosperity Spain underwent regarding literature and the arts during the 16-17th centuries. This era originated after the Catholic Monarchs reclaimed land in Spain that was previously occupied by Muslim forces and ended the centuries-long Iberian Reconquista in 1492. [1] With the successful end of the Reconquista, along with the discovery of The Americas in the same year, Spain was on a path towards affluence and comfort. These two events were pivotal in establishing Spain as a global power. Due to the political stability that Spain had leading up to and during this era, it was considered to be at the peak of it’s power- as it was the world’s largest empire and maintained great influence not only in Europe, but around the rest of the world as well.

The arts flourished during this era, as there was a change in the traditional Spanish art style after foreign styles were introduced, especially influences from the Italian Renaissance. Religious-themed artwork was very prevalent and the art styles were influenced by realism, naturalism, and the Baroque style (which emphasized dramatic, ornate, realistic, and dynamic pieces). Artists sought to represent religion through art with the use of saints, angles, and biblical scenes. Along with religion, this era also saw mythology, folklore, and Spanish history becoming more commonly depicted within artworks. [1]

The Chiaroscuro technique, which contrasted light and dark tones, also became popular in Spain during this era due to the dramatic effect obtained. Prominent artists from this era include El Greco, Diego Velazquez, and Francisco de Zurbarán. The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is a highly renowned painting by El Greco, which depicts a Spanish legend and is housed in the church of Santo Tomé in Toledo, Spain. This painting showcases both the Chiaroscuro technique and the common use of religious themes, with the heavens depicted at the top of the piece. The Adoration of the Shepherds by Francisco de Zurbarán is another renowned painting that characterizes the art style of this era and depicts a biblical scene of shepherds visting baby Jesus, again emphasizing the prevalence of religious themes.

Plateresque was heavily inspired by Gothic Architecture, especially in regards to spatial arrangements, which ultimately transitioned into architecture styles more influenced by the Italian Renaissance [3]. Some common elements of this style included elaborate ornaments, chandeliers, columns, sculptures and silversmith techniques. The Catedral de Granada in Spain is an example of this style.


This style was commonly associated with the Roman Catholic Church, and thus was primarily used for churches, monasteries, and cathedrals, such as the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. [1] The California Churrigueresque, which was a 20th century revival movement of this art style in California, resulted in the Casa del Prado theater in San Diego and is an example of the long-lasting influence of this era.



The fashion of this era was about showcasing one’s opulence and social status. The fashion was considered a reflection of the luxury, wealth, and power of Spain. However, this high-end fashion was only attainable for the Spanish nobility and upper class. Detailed embroidery, ruffs, jewels, expensive fabrics (such as silk or velvet), and intricate lace were also common elements of this era’s luxurious fashion. The fashion often included religious motifs (such as rosaries and crosses), especially women’s dresses. As the motifs were supposed to emphasize modesty and purity, which were highly valued feminine traits. Men typically wore loose-fitting fashion (capes, doublets, etc.) while women had more restrictive clothing (bodies, farthingales, etc.). A painting of Queen Margaret of Austria by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz shows an example of what encompassed a noble woman’s fashion. For contrast, Two Women at a Window is a painting by Museo del Prado in Madrid that depicts the fashion of lower class women.
Art, architecture, and fashion are only three of MANY areas that flourished in Spain during the Spanish Golden Age. Literature, music, and theater are other major fields recognized for drastically impacting and characterzing this era.
The featured photo shows Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez (1656). Museo del Prado, Madrid. It is considered a masterpiece which depicts both the art style and upper-class fashion of both men and women of this era.
References:
[1] Wiki, Contributors to Aesthetics. “Spanish Golden Age.” Aesthetics Wiki, Fandom, Inc., aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Spanish_Golden_Age. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025. [2] https://www.flickr.com/photos/z_wenjie/5891033380/in/album-72157626966575941 [3] https://alyssakeasling.wordpress.com/2012/04/ [4] https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/san-diego/attractions/casa-del-prado/a/poi-sig/1437283/361857 [5] https://www.tripsavvy.com/mexico-city-metropolitan-cathedral-guide-4156912
3 Comments. Leave new
Hi Dawn Monique,
This article is well-written! I enjoyed reading about this topic! I find it fascinating that many art movements were inspired by past art movements. You mentioned that this art period was inspired by the Italian renaissance. Do you think later art movements, or modern art, took some inspiration from the Spanish Golden Age?
I was surprised as well by how much influence other art movements had on this era (and country in particular), especially Italian Renaissance (which was ending as this era was beginning)! It was neat to find out that a lot of the influence came from the artists themselves moving from other parts of Europe to Spain during this era, so they brought the foreign techniques with them.
Regarding your question, the architecture and art styles that emerged during this era definitely continued to be used for centuries, but since they themselves were so heavily influenced by other movements, it is difficult to isolate what later movements may have been inspired particularly by this era. Modernisme (19th century) and cubism (20th century) are considered to originate from this era (along with the European influences as well)! But those are examples which further emphasize that the Spanish influence became heavily blended with other (earlier) European influences after the end of this era.
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