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'Black but Human' is a proverb which emerges from the African work songs and poems written by Afro-Hispanics enslaved in Spain during the Hapsburg dynasty. Carmen Fracchia uses the lens of visuals arts and material culture to understand the representation and self-representation of Afro-Hispanic slaves and ex-slaves in this period.
In the sixteenth century Spain was at the height of its glory, enjoying a period of exceptional power, wealth, and artistic splendor. In 1561 Philip II commissioned Europe's leading topographical artist, Anton van den Wyngaerde, to prepare cities and towns of his Golden Age empire. Van den Wyngaerde spent most of his time traveling in Spain from 1561 until his death in 1571, preparing views—many the earliest known depictions—of no fewer than sixty-two cities and towns, including Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Granada, Córoba, Seville, Toledo, Burgos, and Madrid. These drawings not only record Spain's cities during the most glorious moments in their history but also depict them with a precision that can almost be described as photographic.
Sebastiano del Piombo (c.1485-1547) was a close associate and rival of the central artistic figures of the High Renaissance, notably Michelangelo and Raphael. After the death of Raphael and the departure of Michelangelo from Rome, Sebastiano became the dominant artistic personality in the city. Despite being one of most significant artistic figures of the period, he remains the last artist of major importance in the western canon about whom no recent work has been published in English. In this study, Piers Baker-Bates approaches Sebastiano?s career through analysis of the patrons he attracted following his arrival at Rome. The first half of the book concentrates on Sebastiano?s network of pa...
Though women played an integral role in the conquest of the New World, little has been written about their contributions. This Spanish-language work examines the lives and deeds of women who influenced the course of history in the Americas some 500 years ago. Covered in detail are the lives of Maria de Toledo, first woman governor in America; Isabel de Bobadilla, governor of Cuba and instrumental in the Spanish expedition to Florida; Ana Francisca de Borja, governor of Peru and a military leader; Beatriz de la Cueva, governor of Guatemala and a political leader; Maria de Penalosa, governor of Nicaragua and a military strategist; Isabel Barreto y Quiros, first and only woman admiral of the Sp...
Sacred Skin offers the first systematic evaluation of the dissemination and development of the cult of St. Bartholomew in Spain. Exploring the paradoxes of hagiographic representation and their ambivalent effect on the observer, the book focuses on literary and visual testimonies produced from the emergence of a distinctive vernacular voice through to the formalization of Bartholomew’s saintly identity and his transformation into a key expression of Iberian consciousness. Drawing on and extending advances in cultural criticism, particularly theories of selfhood and the complex ontology of the human body, its five chapters probe the evolution of hagiographic conventions, demonstrating how flaying poses a unique challenge to our understanding of the nature and meaning of identity. See inside the book.
Cross the threshold into the world of the High Middle Ages and explore the illuminating wisdom, beauty and art of the Gothic cathedrals, stunning wonders of the medieval era for all to see today. From bejewelled stained glass windows to a pilgrimage “on the road” to Compostela, the wonders of Gothic architecture continue to inspire many worldwide. From the 12th century, the Gothic architectural style continued to spread throughout Europe. Highly-regarded medievalist Dr. Karen Ralls explores the legacy of this exquisite architectural period, whose artistic beauty and expert craftsmanship have served for centuries to inspire feelings of spiritual reverence and aesthetic wonder. She details...
2009 Catholic Press Association Award Winner! From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name." Eucharist is the fullest expression of our life with God, a life we share with Christians throughout the ages. It is also a sensory experience, engaging us in the sights and sounds, tastes and touch of the worship. Edward Foley's revised and expanded From Age to Age draws readers into that sensory experience. He traces the development of Christian Eucharist from its Jewish roots to our own time. In addition to exploring the architecture, music, books, and vessels that contributed to each period's liturgical expressions, this edition introduces readers to the theology of each age as well as the historical and cultural contexts that shaped the Eucharist. Richly illustrated with numerous images and quotations from period texts, this book is a feast for the mind and eye. Through many examples of the visual and auditory symbols that are central to Eucharist, readers will discover how Christian worship is embodied worship that from age to age gives glory to God and sanctifies people.