Sobre la prudencia y el decoro de las imágenes en la tratadística del siglo XVI en España

Abstract

In the last session of the Council of Trent, held on December 4, 1563, a short decree was promulgated regarding the cult of the saints, relics and images, with a double purpose: to reaffirm the doctrine of the Catholic Church in the face of Protestantism’s advance and to exert control over the representation of religious images so as to prevent the populace from relating to them in idolatrous or superstitious ways. Yet these ideas had in fact been developing somewhat earlier, as evidenced in two of the first treatises on painting in Spain: Commentary on painting and ancient painters (1560) by Felipe de Guevara and On ancient painting by Francisco de Holanda (1548, translated into Spanish in 1563). This paper analyzes the discourse surrounding images before the Council’s decree took effect by considering these early Spanish artistic treatises, while also taking into account writings from the scholarly circle around Philip II (Ambrosio de Morales) and later (Fray José de Sigüenza). This article also addresses the impact of these Tridentine ideas on artistic practice, particularly as manifested at the Escorial.

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