IV.

The Renaissance in Spain

In Spain, painters during the Renaissance never fully achieved the modernity found in northern Europe and Italy, although their art was almost totally dependent on these two traditions. The Spanish always imported painters and sculptors for most of their important decorative work. Even in the 16th century, Titian was the leading painter of the Spanish court, although he was not actually present there. In architecture, a fully Renaissance structure was not built until late in the century. Near Madrid, the architects of Philip II built El Escorial, combining a monastery, a seminary, a palace, and a church. Although indebted to Italian High Renaissance style, the austere majesty and complete lack of ornamentation of this structure mark a new style in Spanish architecture.

See also Architecture; Dome; Drawing; Fresco; Illuminated Manuscripts; Metalwork; Miniature Painting; Mural Painting; Oil Painting; Painting; Perspective; Prints and Printmaking; Sculpture; Still Life; Tempera Painting; Watercolor Painting.