Spain fast-forwards into Realism
Even while the artist was still alive, El Greco’s style
felt anachronistic in the wider context of Spanish
painting: by the start of the 17th century Mannerism
was fast being jettisoned in favour of a naturalistic
realism. Unsurprisingly, the change of mood came
from Italy, inspired particularly by thetenebrosoof
Caravaggio, exaggerating the contrasts ofchiaroscuro
with dramatic, hyper-real figures set against murky
backgrounds. But, while the seeds of Naturalistic
Realism were sown across the Med, it was Spain that
took up the initiative and nurtured a healthy crop of new
artists. Schools of Baroque painting rapidly evolved in
Seville and Madrid in a Golden Age of Spanish art that
bore an armful of memorable painters. Despite the new
style, religion and royalty remained the dominant
subject matter, although bits of everyday Spanish life
did begin to creep onto the canvas.Religious restraints and royal relief
In Spain theBarroco(Baroque) period was tied in with
the zealous days of the Counter-Reformation, and
painters were expected to crowbar religious instruction
into their work at any available opportunity. Nudes
continued to be thin on the ground and any artist that
strayed too far from the path of righteousness could
expect a house call from the Inquisition.The Baroque
flowering of Spanish art also happened in an era
when Spain’s political power was already on the slide.
Creativity escaped the rot thanks largely to the
generous patronage of various monarchs, most notably
King Felipe IV. It’s also worth noting that the term
Barrocodidn’t actually pass Spanish lips until the
late 1800s.117- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
Still life in the kitchen
Many of the Spanish
Baroque flock painted
bodegones, kitchen or
dining scenes with a
strong quota of still life.
Velázquez’Vieja friendo
huevos(1618), with its
old lady frying eggs, is a
good example.3.1.4 Naturally gifted: Baroque era painters