Monday
Celtic-Iberian
and Roman Art
As an
opening gambit we will briefly look at Spain's geographic context especially in
respect of its isolation and cultural connectedness. Then we will look at the mysterious world of
pre-Roman culture. Strange sculptural forms representing bulls and pigs
together with images of archetypal goddesses.As in the rest of Europe, the arrival of the Romans changes everything
and we will look at the extraordinary impact they made especially in the built
infrastructure - great temples, theatres, walls, aqueducts and even a
lighthouse.
Tuesday
The
Visigoths and Islamic Art
The
collapse of the Roman Empire brought with it another great shift in cultural
activity. The Visigoths arrived in
Iberia and their material culture is quite unmistakable. After only a couple of centuries the people
of north Africa migrated and displaced the Visigothic kingdom. Islamic culture arrived and with it a new
aesthetic representing ideas from the middle east. We will consider the caliphate of Cordoba and
how it impacted on Iberian culture in so many ways.
Wednesday
The
Romanesque and Gothic
Whilst
Islamic culture held its grip in southern Spain, the Christian reconquest over
many centuries headed southwards from the northern mountains. Romanesque churches asserted their presence
and many of these contained wonderful wall paintings. Eventually the Gothic style was adopted on
the peninsular thus cementing the Christian hold in a wider European
context. In this session we will explore
the rich Gothic heritage found in cathedrals such as that of Burgos, Leon,
Valencia and Seville.
Thursday
Neo-Classicism
and The Golden Age of Spanish Art
Here we
will see how the neo-classical phenomenon the Italian renaissance embeds itself
in the Spanish context. Of course, it
morphs into the baroque extravaganza found in many churches but also in the
palaces of the Habsburgs and Bourbons.Then redressing Kenneth Clark's famous omission we will celebrate the
great artists of the so-called 'Golden Age' - El Greco, Velasquez, Murillo and
others. The startling work of Goya will
conclude our indulgence and we will briefly assess how Spanish art influenced
others.
Friday
Modernism
and Contemporary Spain
Perhaps
one of the contradictions of Spain is its fraught relationship to the modern
world. At times, arch-conservative and
then at other times (and places) embracing change and radicalism. In this final session we will look at the
Modernism found in Catalunya, as well as the reactionary architecture of the
Franco era. Painters and sculptors will
make a big appearance and we will ask ourselves the question as to whether
Picasso was essentially a Spanish or French artist. Contemporary attitudes towards art and
architecture will conclude our course.
