Spanish Golden Age

The Spanish Golden Age (in Spanish, Siglo de Oro) was a period of flourishing in arts and letters in Spain and the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, coinciding with the political decline and fall of the Habsburgs (Phillip III, IV and Charles II). Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, the last great writer of this golden age, died in New Spain in 1695.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Siglo de Oro - Spain - Latin America - Juana Inés de la Cruz - New Spain - 1695

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Also, culturally (in literature and art) the golden age (siglo de oro) was in the 17th century,

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The Habsburgs, both in Spain and Austria, were great patrons of art in their countries. El Escorial, the great royal monastery built by King Philip II of Spain, invited the attention of some of Europe's greatest architects and painters. Diego Velázquez, regarded as one of the most influential painters of European history and a greatly respected artist in his own time, cultivated a relationship with King Philip IV and his chief minister, the Count-duke of Olivares, leaving several portraits to us that demonstrate his style and skill. El Greco, another respected Spanish artist from the period, infused Spanish art with the styles of the Italian renaissance and helped create a unique Spanish style of painting. Some of Spain's greatest music is regarded as having been written in the period, which such composers as Tomás Luis de Victoria, Luis de Milán and Alonso Lobo helping to shape Renaissance music and the styles of counterpoint and polychoral music, with their influence lasting far into the Baroque period. Spanish literature blossomed as well, most famously demonstrated in the work of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote de la Mancha. Lope de Vega, Spain's most prolific playwright, wrote over four hundred plays that survive to us to the present day of perhaps a thousand written in his own lifetime.

Related Topics:
Habsburgs - Spain - Austria - El Escorial - Philip II of Spain - Diego Velázquez - Philip IV - Count-duke of Olivares - El Greco - Tomás Luis de Victoria - Luis de Milán - Alonso Lobo - Renaissance music - Counterpoint - Polychoral - Baroque period - Miguel de Cervantes - Don Quixote de la Mancha - Lope de Vega

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