Spanish+Artists

By: Sara Armstrong
 * __[[image:prado-museum-madrid.jpg width="350" height="260" align="right" caption="Prado Museum, Madrid"]]Spanish Art: A Brief History __**

Some of the greatest artists of all time have called Spain their home. From architecture to fine art in the Prado Museum, the cities of Spain are main attractions for art enthusiasts. Over centuries, Spain has revolutionized the art world.

During the 16th century, many Spanish artists were influenced by the Italian Renaissance. The Italians had obtained a higher degree of skill in the aesthetic and technical aspects of the arts. Though the Spanish artists had learned new techniques, art in Spain was not outstanding during the 16th century due to the main patron of the arts being the Church causing the Spanish Renaissance to be characterized by religious subject matter.

With the techniques learned by the Italians, Spanish art flourished in the 17th century. In the Golden Age of Spanish culture the most significant painters were El Greco, Jose de Ribera, and Diego Velázquez. Though the subjects of their paintings were still primarily related to the Church, they were painted with naturalistic realism.

Eventually the Baroque movement led to Neoclassicism. The most prominent painter of the 18th century was Francisco de Goya. Goya was an accomplished painter of the monarchy but also focused on social aspects of everyday life as well as some political matters.

Perhaps the largest contributions Spain made to art world were the Cubism and Surrealism movements. Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque headed the Cubism movement while Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró headed the Surrealism movement. 

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