Philip II of Spain and the Architecture of Empire

Philip II of Spain was a major patron of the arts, known for his magnificent palace and royal mausoleum at the Monastery of San Lorenzo of El Escorial. This book examines his architectural and artistic projects, placing them within the wider context of Europe and the transoceanic Iberian dominions. It highlights his use of building regulations to construct an imperial city in Madrid and his transformation of the Simancas fortress into an archive. It also analyzes the refashioning of his imperial image upon his ascension to the Portuguese throne and uses the Hall of Battles in El Escorial as a lens through which to understand visual culture, history writing, and Philips kingly image.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 08 May 2021
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press

Philip II of Spain, a renowned patron of the arts, is best known for his magnificent palace and royal mausoleum at the Monastery of San Lorenzo of El Escorial. However, his monastery and collections do not fully capture the rich artistic landscape of early modern Iberia. In her book, Laura Fernández-González delves into Philip's architectural and artistic projects, examining them within the broader context of Europe and the transoceanic Iberian dominions.

"Philip II of Spain and the Architecture of Empire" explores ideas of empire and globalization in the art and architecture of the Iberian world during the sixteenth century. Fernández-González sheds light on Philip's use of building regulations to construct an imperial city in Madrid and emphasizes the significance of his transformation of the Simancas fortress into an archive. She analyzes how Philip's imperial image was refashioned upon his ascension to the Portuguese throne and uses the Hall of Battles in El Escorial as a lens to understand visual culture, history writing, and Philip's kingly image as reflected in funeral commemorations mourning his death across the Iberian world.

By positioning Philip's art and architectural programs within the wider cultural context of politics, legislation, religion, and theoretical trends, Fernández-González demonstrates how design and images traveled across the Iberian world. She offers a nuanced assessment of Philip's role in influencing them, making this panoramic work a lasting impact on Philip's artistic legacy. Art historians and scholars of Iberia and sixteenth-century history will greatly value Fernández-González's research.

Weight: 1358g
Dimension: 328 x 278 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780271087245