Plateresque, Purism, and Herrerian Styles in Spanish Architecture
Plateresque Style in Spanish Architecture
The Plateresque style is a fine decorative style that covered the facades of buildings. It is characterized by the following:
- Elements and survival of late Gothic structures (ribbed vaulting, archways)
- Mudejar elements: persistence of ceilings and medieval structure of buildings
- Abundant decorations (medals, garlands)
- Appearance of representative works, such as altarpieces
A typical example is the facade of the University of Salamanca. It resembles a front-altarpiece with arches on twin doors. It develops an area bounded by two pilasters and is divided like altarpieces into three floors and five sections. The entire facade is covered with typical Plateresque decoration, including grotesques, fantastic animals, shields, weapons, a medallion with portraits of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando, and Hercules. The rigorous decoration is available under a symmetric and visible graduation. This facade hides the structure of the building and contains symbolic meaning.
Purism in Spanish Architecture
Purism is associated with the figure of Charles I. It is characterized by the reduction of decoration to something that is a subunit of the building, conceived according to rules.
A representative building is the University of Alcala de Henares. Some areas are highlighted, but there are salient features that simulate columns. It is divided into three floors, with the wall predominating on the two lower floors. The central street is delimited by paired columns. There is a decorative reduction and simplification, with the decoration focused on specific areas. On the first floor, there are four windows whose pediments represent the Catholic Church. On the second floor, there is a large window guarded by two soldiers of Charles V. Additionally, there are shields of Cisneros flanked by two medallions with figures of St. Peter and St. Paul. On the third floor, there is a shield of Charles V, framed by Perseus and symbols of Athens, military victory, and the custody of Christ.
Another example is the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra, by Pedro Machuca. It features the disappearance of all ornamentation and a sober style. The palace is organized on a square plant whose core is a central courtyard with a circular lintel. The central courtyard encompasses two galleries of columns of harmonious proportions. The courtyard is topped by an entablature. The facade is divided horizontally into two floors. The lower floor has Tuscan pilasters, and the upper floor has Ionic pilasters. Between the windows, there are alternating triangular pediments. The south central body presents a triumphal arch. Upstairs, there is a double arch supported by columns. On the pedestals of the west facade, mythological episodes appear.
Herrerian Style in Spanish Architecture
The El Escorial Monastery is a prime example of the Herrerian style. The building was designed as a palace, monastery, and royal pantheon. Its plant is a huge square, recalling a grill, alluding to the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. The church and the Patio de los Reyes are located in the center, at the coordinating heart. The temple has a Greek cross plan with a large dome supported by four immense pillars. A drum pierced by windows illuminates the interior. The monarch’s palace is located behind the church. Attached to one of the sides of the temple is the Patio de los Evangelistas, a square two-story space surrounded by arches topped by a stone balustrade. A central circular temple appears, divided into two parts. In the temple, there are a few niches containing figures of the four Evangelists. On the exterior, the granite facade stands as a huge, unadorned wall with predominantly horizontal lines. The cover features an attached Doric style. After passing through eight columns, the entrance leads to the Courtyard of the Kings, which gives access to the church.