The Escorial
Subtitle: art and power in the Renaissance
By: Henry Kamen.
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New Haven
Language: eng
Number of pages: 291
ISBN-13: 9780300162448
Subjects: Philip -- II, -- King of Spain, -- 1527-1598; Renaissance -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial; Monasteries -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial -- History -- 16th century; Palaces -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial -- History -- 16th century; Historic buildings -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial; Art and society -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial -- History -- 16th century; Architecture and society -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial -- History -- 16th century; Power (Social sciences) -- Spain -- San Lorenzo del Escorial -- History -- 16th century; San Lorenzo del Escorial (Spain) -- History -- 16th century; San Lorenzo del Escorial (Spain) -- Buildings, structures, etc
Description: "Few buildings have played so central a role in Spain’s history as the monastery-palace of San Lorenzo del Escorial. Colossal in size and imposing - even forbidding - in appearance, the Escorial has invited and defied description for four centuries. Part palace, part monastery, part mausoleum, it has also served as a shrine, a school, a repository for thousands of relics, and one of the greatest libraries of its time. Constructed over the course of more than twenty years, the Escorial challenged and provoked, becoming for some a symbol of superstition and oppression, for others a 'wonder of the world.' Now a World Heritage Site, it is visited by thousands of travelers every year. In this intriguing study, Henry Kamen looks at the circumstances that brought the young Philip II to commission construction of the Escorial in 1563. He explores Philip’s motivation, the influence of his travels, the meaning of the design, and its place in Spanish culture. It represents a highly engaging narrative of the high point of Spanish imperial dominance, in which contemporary preoccupations with art, religion, and power are analyzed in the context of this remarkable building."--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.