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Period: 1401 to
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a European cultural movement between the 15th and 17th centuries that marked the transition from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. It was characterized by a return to the classical culture of Greece and Rome, revaluing their myths, philosophy and art. It emerged in Italy and spread to Europe and America, driven by social and political changes, such as the end of feudalism and the rise of the bourgeoisie. Figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo stood out. -
1419
Florence Cathedral`s dome
Brunelleschi's Dome, a masterpiece by the Florentine architect, embellishes Florence Cathedral and was the largest in the world for four centuries. Inaugurated in 1436, it defied the limitations of its time, becoming an architectural landmark and a symbol of the city. Even today it impresses millions of tourists, crowning the sky of Florence and standing out as one of the greatest constructions ever made by man. -
1498
Pietá
La Piedad (1498-1499) es una famosa escultura renacentista de Miguel Ángel, ubicada en la Basílica de San Pedro en el Vaticano. Encargada por el cardenal francés Jean de Bilhères para su monumento funerario, la obra está tallada en mármol de Carrara. Originalmente destinada al monumento del cardenal, fue trasladada en el siglo XVIII a su ubicación actual, en la primera capilla a la derecha de la entrada de la basílica. -
1509
The school of Athens
The School of Athens (1508–1511) is a fresco painted by Raphael in the Stanza della Segnatura, one of the rooms of the papal apartments in the Vatican. It is one of the most famous works of the Renaissance. Raphael was called to Rome by Pope Julius II in 1508, and his first task was to decorate the papal apartments, leaving a lasting mark on the papal court. -
Period: 1520 to 1521
The Revolt of the Comuneros in Castilla
The Revolt of the Comuneros was a popular uprising in Castile during the 16th century against King Charles I, motivated by economic and political discontent. It was one of the most important events in Spanish history and a key element in the reign of Charles I. The consequences of this revolt played an important role in the evolution of the Spanish kingdom. -
Period: 1568 to
The Eighty Years War
Was a military conflict that took place between 1568 and 1648. This long war had a significant impact on European and global history, as it was not only a fight for the independence of the Netherlands from Spanish rule, but also a confrontation between the two great powers of the time: the Spanish Empire and the Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands. -
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada by England
After the Battle of Gravelines, the Spanish Armada was weakened and scattered in the English Channel. The English took advantage of the situation to launch attacks with fire ships, causing panic among the Spanish. The lack of coordination and the continuous attacks led to the defeat and the disastrous retreat towards Spain, losing more than half of the ships. This defeat weakened Philip II and strengthened Elizabeth I, marking the rise of England as a naval power. -
Period: to
Baroque art
Baroque art, dominant in Europe between the 17th and 18th centuries, is characterized by exaggeration, luxury and ornamentation. It emerged in Italy during the Counter-Reformation, with the Catholic Church seeking a more expressive and dynamic art than that of the Renaissance. It used techniques such as trompe l’oeil and chiaroscuro to evoke emotion. This style was prominent in religious architecture. -
Period: to
Neoclassical art
Neoclassicism, an artistic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, arose as a reaction to the ornamental excess of the Baroque and Rococo styles. Inspired by classical antiquity, it promoted reason, simplicity and harmony. It coincided with the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution, reflecting values such as liberty and civic virtue. In architecture, it was characterized by symmetrical and simple buildings, inspired by Greek temples. -
Apollo and Daphne
Apollo and Daphne is a marble sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, created between 1622 and 1625 by order of Cardinal Scipione Borghese. Inspired by mythology, the work stands out for its dynamism and theatricality, characteristics of the Baroque, which broke with the serenity of the Renaissance. The Baroque reflected a new sensibility, expressing intense emotions, chaos and exuberance in a context of great historical and cultural changes. -
Saint Peter’s Square Project
In 1656, Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to design the square in front of St. Peter's Basilica, which became a key work of Baroque urban planning. After several proposals, Bernini opted for an oval square measuring 340 x 240 metres, surrounded by a portico of Tuscan columns and a central obelisk. The square, connected to the basilica by two oblique wings, symbolises the embrace of the Church to Rome and the world. -
The spinners
The story of the contest between the goddess Athena (Minerva in Rome) and the mortal Arachne, told by Ovid in Metamorphoses (Book VI), tells how Arachne, a prodigious weaver from Lydia, challenged Athena, goddess protector of weavers. Arachne, so skilled that she became arrogant, claimed that her skill surpassed that of the goddess. Athena, disguised as an old woman, warned her, but Arachne dismissed the warning, and the challenge was consummated. -
Oath of the Horatii
In David's Oath of the Horatii, the composition stands out for the simplification of the characters and the strong male presence. The central axis is Father Horatio and the three swords, with the brothers aligned in a horizontal line marked by the oath. The space is minimalist, with three arches that allude to Roman antiquity. The contrast between the masculine and the feminine is notable: the men show firm and sober attitudes, while the women express emotions through their curved postures. -
Carlos IV and his family
The Family of Charles IV (1800) is a collective portrait of the Spanish court painted by Francisco de Goya, now in the Museo del Prado. The work contains subtle details that reflect the artist's talent, such as the reference to Hercules and Omphale, which is not accidental. This myth, which represents the end of Hercules' mortal life, symbolises the passing of time, contrasting with the immortality conveyed by other previous royal portraits.