Museo Nacional del Prado

DIEGO VELAZQUEZ was born in Seville and baptized at the church of St Peter on Sunday, June 6, 1599. He was a Spanish painter and the main artist in the court of King Philip IV. He studied under Francisco Pacheco, an artist from Seville who taught him proportion and perspective as well as the artistic trends present in Seville. Some experts say that Velazquez produced the most masterful pieces of art. His work dates back to the contemporary Baroque period, and he is famous for his portraits. He is sometimes referred to as “the painter of the truth.” Velazquez is well known for his paintings of the royal Spanish family including his masterpiece, Las Meninas, done in 1656. His works exhibit much attention to detail, and showcase the characters true personalities through visual techniques. Velazquez continued to produce beautiful pieces until his death in 1660.

My favorite piece from Velazquez in the Prado museum was El Cristo Crucificado, or The Crucified Christ. Painted around 1632, this painting of Christ on the Cross really caught my attention. The intense black background brings about a feeling of drama and sadness. Velazquez once studied the art of nude paintings, and this piece showcases his skills with much detail put into the frontal view of Jesus Christ. I could really sense the depression and fear in Christ’s eyes and the tension in his muscles. I am a religious person and have seen the image of Christ on the Cross numerous times however; Velazquez’s painting portrayed the sight in such a real and passionate manner.

 
FRANCISCO DE ZURBARAN was a Spanish painter born on November 7, 1598 in Fuente de Cantos, Spain. In 1614 his father sent him to Seville to study under Pedro Diaz de Villanueva for three years where he started his painting career at only 15 years of age. He is best known for his religious paintings and still life’s of monks, nuns, and martyrs. As a matter of fact, almost all of his works were of a religious nature, up until his death in 1664. He is sometimes referred to as the “Spanish Caravaggio” due to his skill in the realistic use of chiaroscuro, and his extreme sensibility to detail.

My favorite piece from Zurbaran at the Prado was the Apparition of the Apostle St. Peter to St. Peter Nolasco, or the Aparición del Apostol San Pedro a San Pedro Nolasco which was painted in 1629. I felt that this work was so unique. It showcases a man upside down on the cross, and an apostle bent down diagonally across from him. Zurbaran used light to add a sense of realism and to highlight the essence of the supernatural. It is said that the painting’s intent was to teach the faithful and show them the truth of faith. My interpretation is somewhat similar but I feel that Zurbaran tried to emphasize the fact that God is not as distant as we may think and that we need to stay true to our faith and recognize him in our everyday lives.

BARTOLOME ESTEBAN MURILLO was born in Seville, Spain in 1617 where he resided until his death in 1682. Murillo is considered to be one of the most important figures of Baroque painting in Spain. Most of his paintings are done in a religious manner and hold a sacred theme. However, he is also known for his detailed paintings of women and children. His works can be described as a lively and realistic portrayal of the everyday life of his time. In 1660, Murillo founded a painting academy which soon became regarded as a prestigious place of study. Over the years, Murillo held great influence in Spanish painting, and today is considered to be a great universal master.

My favorite piece from Murillo showcased at the Prado Museum was La Immaculada, or the Immaculate Conception, painted in 1678. This amazing piece shows the Virgin Mary surrounded by cherubs and angels migrating towards her. This was one of Murillo’s later works and is considered to be one of his most successful pieces. Murillo portrays her as a young girl about to enter womanhood, in a pure white robe, wearing a girdle with three knots to represent poverty, chastity and obedience. Her hands are folded in prayer giving her sweet and motherly characteristics. It is said that his intent was to bring before our eyes a vision of this holy woman existing from all eternity, floating in an infinite abyss of time and space. I believe that this goal was succeeded. I loved the detail put into the numerous angels to make them each unique, as well as the genuine look of love in Mary’s eyes.

References:
http://www.spanisharts.com/history/barroco/imagenes/zurbaran/nolasco.html

http://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/advent/feature-2002-12-day9.html
http://idlespeculations-terryprest.blogspot.com/2007/04/murillo-and-immaculate-conception.html

Cordoba =]

Hola Cordoba! Tucked away in beautiful narrow streets paved with cobblestone and crazy motorcycle drivers, we unloaded the bus to embark on a 15 minute walk to our hostile. Carrying two extremely heavy suitcases up and down bumpy streets and uneven pavement was the last thing I wanted to do at 9 a.m, however to my surprise, I survived. Note to self for next time: PACK LIGHT. Out of all the cities I’ve been to in Spain thus far, Cordoba definitely felt the most traditional and historic. It had traces of Muslim, Jewish and Christian architecture and culture all throughout the city. My favorite part of our visit was the tour of the beautiful Mesquita (my first tour of a European cathedral), and our dinner at an Arab restaurant with belly dancers. I have found a new love for hummus, veal, and cous cous. Cordoba was also the first place where I really started to connect with my fellow classmates and realize the friendly and talented group of people I am so lucky to travel with. After one long and jam packed day, I was satisfied with what Cordoba had to offer and was ready to hit the pillow for our next day in Granada.

Madrid: Day Uno =]

Saturday May 16th, 8:00 a.m. landing was a success. An early morning full of sleep deprivation and excitement marks day one of my first day outside of the United States and away from my family and friends for more than 2 days. The Madrid airport was beautiful but I thanked God that we flew with Professor Figueredo or I would have definitely been lost. From the moment I stepped off the plane I experienced the culture shock, starting with the language barrier. Being the only one of thirty students who isn’t fluent in Spanish has definitely been interesting and continues to bring laughs every day. Running on 2 hours of sleep and uno cortodito, I visited the beautiful Prado Museum, explored the amazing streets of Madrid, and consumed extremely fattening yet delicious tapas y vino blanco. My favorite was the papas con alioli and the croquetas de jamon (which I would never touch in Miami). The hustle and bustle atmosphere of Madrid reminded me so much of New York City with an elegant flare. My jaw dropped at the gorgeous architecture and the colorful landscape. One of my favorite parts of the visit was the private tour of the city from my high school friend Andrew, who had been studying there for the past 6 months with the University of Florida. In a matter of 3 hours I saw the cathedrals, the palace, the plazas, the markets, and much much more. My short yet memorable visit to Madrid will last with me forever. Now on to the next one!

Week 1 Complete!

From Madrid...

To Cordoba...

And Granada...

And lastly SEVILLA! I am finally able to call a place home for the last 2 weeks.  We have seen amazing sights and learned so much already about history and different cultures that I can only imagine what these last 2 weeks will have in store. I apologize for the lack of posts this past week, but traveling from hostile to hostile and town to town has consumed the majority of our time.  I am so excited to put the knowledge I have gained to use and begin working on our campaign projects! Stay tuned as more posts and pictures will be on the way. =]

Sevilla

Since the beginning of time Sevilla’s fate has been determined due to its role as a river port. Its origins, somewhat unclear, are most likely traced to the Iberians. The city later became a Greek, Phoenician, and Carthaginian colony which was then taken over by the Romans in 205 BC. The influence from these diverse cultures is what makes Sevilla the beautiful and unique city it is today.

ROMANS AND VISIGOTHS- Dating back to 42 BC, Julius Caesar seized Sevilla and shortly transformed it into one of the main cities of Baetica. In the fifth century, the Vandals invaded the region but were expelled by the Visigoths who then made Sevilla their capital until the court was transferred to Toledo.

THE MOORS- The year 712 was the start of a long period of Arab control beginning with the Moorish conquest. Under the power of Al Mutamid, Sevilla underwent vast cultural development. But due to difficult relations with the Christian king, Alfonso VI, Al Mutamid was forced to get help from the Almoravids who in return seized the kingdom in 1091. However in the twelfth century, the Almohads gained control back from the Almoravids and started a time of urban renovation including the construction of the Giralda and the mezquita (now the site of the cathedral).

In November 1248, Fernando III (the Saint) conquered Sevilla and set up his court. Following his reign was Alfonso X the Wise and Pedro I, who restored the Alcazar and made it his dwelling.

During the Golden Age after the discovery of America in 1492, Sevilla dominated trade with the New World and became the departure and arrival point for nearly every expedition. Many sailed from Sevilla including, Amerigo Vespucci, and Magellan, who set out in 1519 and was the first to circumnavigate the globe. In 1503, the Casa de Contratacion was founded to encourage, inspect and control trade with the Americas. During this time, Sevilla began to encounter great wealth. Palaces were built, new industries were sparking and the wave of money and hectic activity attracted a diverse crowd. As a matter of fact, in the sixteenth century Seville’s population almost doubled reaching approximately 200,000 people.

After the plague of 1649, the city sadly entered a period of decline. During the twentieth century however, Sevilla hosted two major international exhibitions. The first, in 1929, was the Ibero-American Exhibition followed by Expo ’92. Each had a major impact on the layout of the city. The Expo ’92 started a number of large projects including the Isla de la Cartuja, where the fair was held. Today, the Isla Magica theme park and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo are located on this site.

Some of the city’s most important monuments are the Giralda, the Cathedral and the Royal Alcazar Palace located in the center of the city.

GIRALDA. The Giralda is the symbol of Sevilla. It was built in the late twelfth century as part of the mosque (mezquita) and displayed three gilded spheres, which were destroyed by an earthquake in the fourteenth century. The belfry, three superimposed stages, and balconies are sixteenth century additions by Cordoban architect Hernan Ruiz. These had an enormous weather vane called the statue of Faith or the Giraldillo, from which the tower’s name came about. The Giralda is a masterpiece of Almohad art. The decoration on each side is organized into three bertical registers with sebka panels. (http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/25/7c/8e/giralda-sevilla-spain.jpg)

CATHEDRAL. The Cathedral is considered to be the third largest in floor space in the Christian world after St. Peter’s in the Vatican, and St. Paul’s in London. It is one of the last Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is famous for its Renaissance influence. Its exterior consists of the Cristobal, Asuncion and Concepcion, the Puerta del Nacimiento, and the Puerta del Bautismo which open out onto the beautiful Avenida de la Constitucion. The rounded Chapel Royal is found at the east end, and is decorated with coats of arms. The inside of the Cathedral is marked with impressive stone, stained glass, a mirrored floor and grilles that strike in size and richness. It’s high altar (capilla mayor) is the largest in Spain. (http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/Places/Cathedrals/Sevilla,-Spain,-Cathedral-1-1GOYU154VH-1024x768.jpg)

ROYAL ALCAZAR PALACE. This extraordinary palace resulted from phases of construction starting in the tenth century onwards, and showcases a variety of architectural styles. All that remains of the original Alcazar of the Almohads are the Patio del Yeso and the arches separating the Patio de las Monteria from the Patio del Leon. In the thirteenth century, Alfonso X (the wise) built the Gothic-style apartments known as the Salones de Carlos V. The center of the palace is credited to Pedro I (the cruel) in 1362. This Mudejar creation was built by masons from Granada, and portrays Alhambran influence. Modifications were later made by Juan II, the Catholic Monarchs, Charles V and Felipe II. The palace houses numerous patios, including the Palacio de Pedro el Cruel, the Palacio Gotico (Salones de Carlos V), and the Patio de Banderas. The Alcazar is full of extensive gardens that were created over many different time periods and also showcases Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque styles. (http://www.sevillaonline.es/images/sevilla/monuments/alcazar/alcazar_giardini780x585.jpg)

Michelin Green Guide Andalucia. Michelin Travel Pubns, 2008. Print.