Spanish Arts & Music
A brief history of Spain's art and music.
Traditional Arts of Spain
The Habsburg Spanish Empire reached its height of wealth and power during the Renaissance era. As a result, the nation has sponsored many pioneering artists, architects, writers, and musicians. Spain is, for example, credited with the first modern novel, Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Its national arts developed within a complex mix of Catholicism, Renaissance philosophy, and older folk customs, as well as drawing from Berber, Arabic, Roma, and New World cultures.
Folk Music in Spain
Spain is home to a variety of folk music styles, generally played along regional lines. The flamenco, Spain’s most famous dance, hails from Andalucia. This style is noted for its use of guitar, castanets, and rhythmic clapping. Flamenco remains popular in many former Spanish colonies, which were often settled by people of Andalusian descent. To the north, musical customs draw more influence from European musical styles. Galicia, Asturia, and Castile, for example, are home to a tradition of bagpipes and jigs similar to other Celtic-based cultures. The jota, originally from Aragon, is another folk dance form popular throughout Spain. It may be accompanied by southern-style guitars and lutes or northern bagpipes and drums. The Basques, a distinct culture within Spain, play instruments like the double clarinet, txalaparta xylophones, tambourines, and accordions.
Painting and Architecture in Spain
Spanish painting and architecture were both historically influenced by outside sources. The Moorish conquest of Spain left behind palaces and mosques in Berber and Arab styles, favoring domes and ornate geometric patterns. During and shortly after the Reconquista, Gothic architecture grew more popular. Imported Italian and Flemish artists then brought Renaissance architecture and painting styles to the Habsburg royal court. Spain hosted influential painters like El Greco, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and the early prodigy Diego Velasquez. Over time, Spanish painters developed their own styles. Among its most famous painters are Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali. Perhaps its most influential architect was Antoni Gaudí, whose unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral still towers over Barcelona.
Spanish Literature
Spanish literature, at home and in its former colonies, reflects the rich history and traditions of the empire. Folk legends and ballads from medieval times primarily follow the story of El Cid, a Spanish lord who participated in the Reconquista. Besides Miguel de Cervantes, well known writers of the Spanish language include Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Fuentes, Isabel Allende, and Pablo Neruda.
Further Reading:
The Arts in Modern Spain
Modern Spain, after recovering from a period of autocratic rule, has emerged again as a leading contributor to the arts. The nation is currently home to a successful film industry and a thriving culture of street artists, photographers, painters, sculptors, and musicians.
Learn More About Spanish Culture
Cultural Overview | Geography | History | Daily Life | Society | Economy | Beliefs | Arts & Music
References
Gies, David T. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Spanish Culture. Cambridge University Press. 1999.
Payne, Stanley G. Spanish Catholicism: An Historical Overview. University of Wisconsin Press. 1984.
Phillips, William and Carla Rahn Phillips. A Concise History of Spain. Cambridge University Press. 2016.
“The World Factbook: Spain.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 12 July 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html.
Walker, Rose. *Art in Spain and Portugal from the Romans to the Early Middle Ages. *Amsterdam University Press. 2016.
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