Spanish Baroque Art: Sculpture and Painting in the 17th Century

Posted on Oct 19, 2024 in Arts and Humanities

Spanish Baroque Art

Sculpture in the 17th Century

The 17th century in Spain, traditionally considered a period of decline, saw a flourishing of culture. Monasteries, parishes, and clergy, along with lay confraternities, were the primary patrons of religious art. Sculpture focused on realism, aiming to strengthen the faith of believers.

Characteristics of Spanish Baroque Sculpture

  • Realism: Sculptures were designed to be lifelike and relatable.
  • Thematic Focus: Religious themes, particularly those derived from the Council of Trent, were predominant.
  • Polychrome and Unpainted Wood: Wood was the primary material, often polychromed but sometimes left unpainted.
  • Two-Step Process: Sculptures were typically created in two stages: “red stew” (a layer of plaster to correct errors) and the application of paint and other materials.
  • Emphasis on Exposed Areas: In sculptures with clothing, meticulous detail was given to the exposed areas like the face and hands.
  • Use of Color: Color was used to enhance realism and create emotional impact.

Schools of Spanish Baroque Sculpture

Castilian School (Valladolid)

The Castilian school, centered in Valladolid, favored dramatic and often bloody themes. Sculptures emphasized pain and cruelty, featuring strained postures, expressive faces, and a tendency to caricature evil characters.

Gregorio Fernandez (1576-1636):

  • Born in Galicia, Fernandez worked in Valladolid from 1605 to 1636.
  • Known for his naturalism and elegant, pathetic expressionism.
  • Created iconic themes that were widely imitated, including Christ at the Column and the Recumbent Christ.
  • Masterfully depicted the Immaculate Conception and the Virgin of Sorrows.
  • Created significant representations of saints, such as St. Teresa and St. Bruno.
  • Considered one of the creators of the Passion themes for Holy Week in Valladolid.
Seville School

The Seville school emphasized lavish and beautiful aesthetics, particularly in depictions of the Virgin and the crucified Christ. They aimed to inspire faith through idealized beauty, often focusing on the head and hands as the body was typically covered by clothing.

Juan Martinez Montanes (?-1649):

  • Born in Alcala la Real (Jaén), Montanes settled in Seville in 1582.
  • Considered the most famous sculptor of the Andalusian Baroque school.
  • Known for his depictions of idealized beauty, characterized by majesty and a melancholic air.
  • Created masterpieces such as Christ of Clemency and the Immaculate Conception (known as “La Cieguecita”).
  • Sculpted the altarpiece in Santiponce, featuring beautiful reliefs and a masterful representation of St. Jerome Penitent.
  • His workshop produced numerous significant sculptures for the Seville school.

Baroque Painting in the 17th Century

The 17th century was the golden age of Baroque painting. It marked a renewal of Renaissance trends and a reaction against Mannerism, rejecting its distortions, asymmetry, and intense colors. Baroque painters sought realism and light, representing everyday reality as they saw it, abandoning the concept of idealized beauty.

Characteristics of Spanish Baroque Painting

  • Realism: Painters focused on depicting the world as it appeared, emphasizing detail and accuracy.
  • Light as a Key Element: Light played a crucial role in both color and composition, creating dramatic effects and highlighting key elements.
  • Landscape Painting: Landscapes gained prominence, often featuring detailed depictions of nature and everyday life.

Flemish Influence

Flanders, with its strong Catholic influence reinforced by the presence of Spanish troops, had a significant impact on Spanish Baroque painting. Flemish painters were known for their optimism, genre scenes, and still lifes.

Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640):

  • The most representative painter of the Flemish school, although born in Germany to Flemish parents.
  • Trained in Antwerp and influenced by both Flemish tradition and Italian masters like Titian.
  • Style: Dynamic and vital works, open compositions, diagonal lines, rich color palette, loose brushwork, intense light and shadow.
  • Themes: Religious scenes (Adoration of the Magi), mythological works (The Judgment of Paris), historical subjects (Marie de’ Medici cycle), portraits (Marie de’ Medici), equestrian portraits (Duke of Lerma), landscapes (Meleager and Atlanta).
  • Notable Disciples: Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck.