The Spanish Golden Age

Conference presented by Serge Legat

From Philip II to Charles II, under the rule of the Habsburgs, Spain experienced a period of great cultural and artistic influence, fueled by strong economic growth and an expansionist policy directed toward the Americas. Writers such as Miguel de Cervantes and painters such as Diego Velázquez left a profound mark on European culture. From El Greco to Ribera, from Zurbarán to Murillo, Spanish painting is characterized by realism, luminism, spirituality, and dramatic intensity. It thus established itself as one of the pinnacles of European art, influencing the entire modern era, from Édouard Manet to Pablo Picasso.