Velázquez and the Golden Age of Spanish art shine in Berlin
June 30, 2016
Spain's Golden Age will illuminate Berlin all summer with the major art show "El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez." It is the most important exhibition from that period to have ever been shown outside of Spain.
Image: A. Kleuker
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Spanish Golden Age painters on show in Berlin
Velázquez, El Greco, Zurbarán - the Berlin Gemäldegalerie presents more than 130 paintings and sculptures from Spain's Golden Age. The works are being shown outside of Spain for the first time.
Image: Gemäldegalerie Berlin
Velázquez not only a painter of portraits
Diego Velázquez is renowned for his outstanding portraits, but his "Three Musicians" shows a different side of the artist. Here, he found inspiration in a scene of daily life, far removed from official court proceedings. The gleaming faces of the boy, as well as the other musicians, express their enjoyment of music.
Image: Gemäldegalerie Berlin
'Young Man With a Fruit Basket'
In addition to Velázquez and El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo is a significant representative of the Golden Age. Originating from Andalusia, he stands for the diversity of Spanish art that was not limited to the capital Madrid. Murillo focused on portraying the religious saints. His more worldly paintings reflect popular scenes in his home town Sevilla.
Image: Antonia Reeve
El Greco's 'Saint Martin and the Beggar'
Yet another outstanding Spanish painter represented in the Berlin exhibition is El Greco, who lived and worked in Toledo. Thanks to him, the little town in the shadow of Madrid evolved into an important art center in Spain during the 17th century. "Saint Martin and the Beggar," painted in his favorite colors, is one of his masterworks.
Image: Gemäldegalerie Berlin
Radical realist works
The artists of "El Siglo de Oro" are not only renowned for their capability for depicting emotions, but also for their penchant towards radical realism. "Lying Christ" by Gregorio Fernández is exemplary for that particular propensity. His finger nails are of genuine horn, and his colored glass eyes stare at the visitors.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/K. Nietfeld
The 'painter of monks'
Francisco de Zurbarán painted legends, religious themes, portraits of monks and the saints. The protagonists of Catholic orders and their mystical inner world dominate his oeuvre, which is why he became known as the "painter of monks." In this painting, he depicted Saint Margareta of Antioch.
Image: The National Gallery, London
Still life with books
The Netherlands enjoy a particular reputation for magnificent still lifes, whereas such works from Spain tend to be more sparse. The difference is partially due to the selection of objects, for example, Lenten food with a dark background, or simple items of daily life. This still life with books by an unknown painter emanates a sense of modesty and plainness.
Image: Gemäldegalerie Berlin
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17th century Spanish art remains one of the most important and popular chapters in European cultural history. The major Berlin exhibition, "El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez," opening on July 1, focuses on that productive period.
It features some 150 masterpieces, with works by Velázquez, El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán and Bartolomé E. Murillo. Also included are lesser-known artists from the artistic centers of Toledo, Valencia, Seville, and Madrid - such as Alonso Cano and Gregorio Fernández.
With artistic creativity inseparably linked to political and social developments in the 17th century, the exhibition also explores that period Spanish history.
Art in times of crisis
Spain had previously established itself as the most powerful country in Europe. But its Golden Age of arts, also known by its Spanish name Siglo de Oro, paradoxically evolved during a time marked by deep crisis: epidemics, armed conflicts and famine.
With King Philip IV beginning to lose political power and territories and the influence of Protestantism on the rise, the arts served as an instrument of political propaganda. Paintings and sculptures aimed to simulate the illusion of the king's power and stability.
The show offers the opportunity to find out more about that period of European history. The exhibition is held at the "Gemäldegalerie" museum in Berlin from July 1 through October 30, 2016.