French, Italian, Spanish in Translation (FIST) 126 Being Golden: The Life and Afterlife of the Spanish Masters
Tues/Thurs 2:40 to 4:00 pm Wyllys 110 Prof. Melissa R. Katz Fall 2015
The achievements of 17th-century Spanish painters justly made them protagonists of a Golden Age. Centuries later, their works took on new roles as inspirations for modern artists: Manet copied Velázquez, Picasso copied El Greco, and (famously in Project Runway) Christian Siriano copied Murillo. What allowed these complex works to resonate so strongly in another era? Is such influence automatically a sign of success? Students will develop a critical understanding of the religious, social, and cultural context of that gave rise to the great artists of Golden Age Spain, as well as insights into the role of art as cultural currency.
