Spanish Golden Age: Literature, Architecture, Sculpture, and Painting

The Spanish Golden Age

The Spanish Golden Age was the period between the second half of the 16th century and the late 17th century.

Literature

Miguel de Cervantes wrote his great novel Don Quixote. Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderón de la Barca wrote famous plays. Luis de Cangora and Francisco de Quevedo were the poets of the time.

Architecture

Architecture was characterized by the use of simple materials, such as bricks on stone, which are covered by ornate decoration. Many buildings were religious, but civil buildings were also constructed. The building of city squares (or squares was a characteristic feature of the Spanish Baroque period.

The Churriguera brothers were the outstanding Baroque architects. They built their own style, which was called churrigueresco and is characterized by extremely ornate decoration. They built the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, and the Church of San Cayetano in Madrid. Other notable architects included Pedro de Ribera, who was responsible for the facade of the Hospice of Madrid, and Fernando Casas Novoa who designed the western facade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Sculpture

The sculptures of the period were mainly religious. Many of them were for processions and altarpieces and were made of polychrome wood to make them look richer. The sculptures are very expressive and dramatic. Gregorio Fernández was the main sculptor in Castilla. He made numerous sculptures of Christ at different moments of the Passion. In Andalusia, the most notable sculptors were Juan Martinez Montanes, Alonso Cano, and Pedro de Mena.

Painting

Spanish Baroque painting was used as propaganda for the Counter-Reformation. Consequently, many religious works were created. The Spanish school was characterized by its realism, emotion, and use of symbolic messages. In addition to Diego Velázquez, there were other important artists:

• José de Ribera, Spagnoletto, imitated Caravaggio's naturalism, but used more color.
• Francisco de Zurbarán painted still lifes, religious scenes, and portraits of saints for monasteries and convents.
• Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's early works were realistic and tenebrist. His later paintings were more tranquil and intimate.