ARTH 053. The Cross and the Crown: Arts of the Spanish Golden Age

The Spanish Golden Age, or "Siglo de Oro" (Golden Century), lasted roughly 150 years, from the discovery of the Americas in 1492 to the mid-seventeenth century. This period of political and cultural ascendance, which saw the Spanish empire blossom across the Atlantic and Asia, gave rise to many of Spain's greatest cultural achievements. This course examines the artworks and artists that made this period special, as well as the patrons and political realities underpinning the period's achievements. We will focus, in particular, on painters such as El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, connecting their artistic production to artistic movements throughout Europe and to the broader trends of the baroque. We will also explore the remarkable corpus of polychrome sculpture produced by sculptors such as Juan Martínez Montañes during the period, examining their role in religious rituals and processions. Lastly, we will examine the major architectural trends and monuments from the period, including the Escorial and several baroque cathedrals. This survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the period will help students understand the ideas and values underpinning this singular moment in artistic history, as well as the place of Spanish golden age art within a broader European and global context.
Humanities.
1 credit.
Catalog chapter: Art and Art History: Art History
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/art

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