Week Nine - The Spanish Renaissance

The Spanish Renaissance

   The Spanish Renaissance occurred during the 16th century. It was one of the most brilliant eras in Spanish History. The Spanish Renaissance was largely influenced by the Moorish, Early Christian, Medieval, and Italian Renaissance. It was a time of art, literature, science, and exploration. At this time, there were Moors from Africa and Spanish Christian groups living together. There were also some Moors who converted to Christianity and were known as Mudejars. The Moors were supreme ornamentalists, geometricians, and expert woodworkers. They forbid naturalistic designs like people, animals, and plants. They instead had very colorful and fancy designs. 

Patio de la Infanta

Alhambra

   The Alhambra was built in Granada in 1354. It was the last of the Spanish palaces built before the expulsion of the Moors. The Alhambra was a great achievement for Moor architecture. Although the exterior was rather plain, it contained numerous courtyards with gardens, fountains, and reflecting pools. It contains many beautiful arches and columns. My favorite part of the Alhambra is the Court of the Lions. 

Alhambra, Granada

Alhambra Court of the Lions

The Cathedral of Seville

   The Cathedral of Seville was built in Seville-Andalusia Spain. It was the largest cathedral in the world during the 15th century. It was even larger than Hagia Sophia. It contained 80 chapels and held around 500 masses daily. The size and design of it demonstrated the city's wealth. It had a mainly Gothic style. It contains high vaulted ceilings which were popular during the Renaissance. It also featured many rejas, which were decorative iron grilles. The Cathedral of Deville is also the burial ground for many prominent historical figures such as Christopher Columbus. 

Cathedral of Seville

Spanish Renaissance Phases

   During the Spanish Renaissance, there were different phases that occurred which affected the design and architecture during the period. One phase was the Plateresco Phase. The word plateresco comes from the word for Spanish silversmith: platero. The style could be described as Gothic or Renaissance. It consisted of small or delicate ornamentation which resembled the work of a silversmith. It was mainly seen in exteriors, patios, churches, public buildings, and furniture. 

Plateresco Examples

El Escorial

   The Escorial is an imitation of the Temple of Solomon. It was begun by Phillip II in 1562 and completed by Juan de Herrera in 1584. It is the largest Renaissance building in the world. It contains a palace and a religious house. It was also planned to have a mausoleum for the king’s father but it was never constructed. A mausoleum is a large and grand building housing one or multiple tombs. Although the Escorial was a massive structure, it was known for its simplicity and plainness. It was a highly “moral” building and was often used as the royal palace for monarchy. 

El Escorial

         El Escorial Monastery                                           El Escorial Library

Spanish Renaissance Furniture

   Spanish furniture is known for its simplicity and boldness. It is usually a rectangular shape with heavy proportions and crude carving. It was usually made of walnut or mahogany and had silver ornamentation. They also sometimes used panels in a repetitive pattern to create a design. Cabinetmakers would usually use carving, painting, and gilding on their pieces along with inlay work. The inlay work used in the furniture was one of Spain’s finest artistic achievements. They would use materials such as bone, ivory, exotic woods, pearls, and metal. They would create very intricate geometric designs or stylized floral and natural designs. Many of the furniture designs produced during the Spanish Renaissance were very helpful in developing the furniture we have today.

                                                                       Sillon de Frailero

One example of a chair from the Spanish Renaissance is the Sillon de Frailero. This was a simple rectangular shaped walnut armchair with a leather seat and back. It usually had a large front stretcher and used decorative nailheads. This was also the prototype for the Mission Chair.

Current Designs of a Mission Chair

              Spanish Renaissance Wooden Bench                    Wooden Bench Today

Other Current Applications:

Allen Lambert Galleria

              Spanish Renaissance Design                          Current Tile Design

One Step Further:

   Lucia Cano is a very well known female Spanish architect. She is most well known for her studio SelgasCano which she founded with Jose Selgas. They are known for their focus on polychromy and creative exploration in design. They like to use new materials and explore the relationship between the building and its surrounding landscape. Lucia went into architecture largely because of her father, Julio Cano Lasso, who was a very well known Spanish architect. She worked for her father for many years before she met Jose Selgas. They founded their studio in 1998. They have received high praise from many, especially for their Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. They created a colorful labyrinth using sustainable and recyclable materials. Throughout her career she has received multiple awards and international recognition.

Extra Links:

- The Cathedral of Seville

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfAIT-jxLC4

- El Escorial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbNHJKyfmDs