El Greco, Velázquez and Goya in the Prado Museum
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A study of the life and works of the most important painters represented in the Prado Museum. Spanish painters such as el Greco, Ribera, Velazquez, and Goya will be examined, as well as painters from other countries such as Bosch, Rubens, Titian, Carracci and Caravaggio whose works are well-represented in the Prado.
Attendance is mandatory for all IES Abroad classes, including course-related excursions. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than two classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
By the end of the course, students will be able to :
- Know the different artistic movements and the historical context of each artist discussed in the course content.
- Develop analytic tools to analyze paintings by the old masters and create their own personal enriching experience and conclusions.
- Broaden their intellectual horizons and use the analytic tools learned in class to apply them to different paintings and museums.
All classes will take place in the Prado Museum, where the professor will explain in front of the original work of art the history behind it, technical aspects, iconography, etc. In some cases the class will take place in the IES Abroad classrooms, although these will be a minimum number of them. In these lectures, theoretical content will be covered as well as discussions and lectures about paintings that cannot be found in El Prado.
A visit to the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida (date to be determined) best known for its ceiling and dome frescoes by Goya as well as for being his burial place.
- Midterm Exam (35%): The midterm exam will cover content from Tiziano, El Greco, Rubens, Caracci, Cravaggio and Velázquez.
- Essay (15%): Students are required to submit a research paper concerning any of the artists or the topics covered during the course. This paper should be submitted before the final exam, and a reliable and broad bibliography will be required.
- Participation and Preparation (15%): All students are required to complete a series of mandatory readings that will provide the historical context of the painting as well as artistic background (technique, iconography, etc) to prepare the students for the lectures at El Prado.
- Final Exam (35%): The final exam will cover mostly works by Anton Rafael Mengs and Goya.
Session |
Content |
Location(s) |
Session 1 | Introduction to the course | IES Abroad Center |
Session 2 | El Prado Museum, basic problems of the antique painting. | El Prado Museum |
Session 3 | The Venetian school of art: Tintoretto & Veronese | El Prado Museum |
Session 4 | The Venetian School of Art II: Tiziano | El Prado Museum |
Session 5 | El Greco I: Characteristics of his paintings | El Prado Museum |
Session 6 | El Greco II: The dignity of the artist | El Prado Museum |
Session 7 | Velázquez in Seville | El Prado Museum |
Session 8 | Annibale Carracci and Caravaggio: The origins of Baroque | El Prado Museum |
Session 9 | Velázquez in court | El Prado Museum |
Session 10 | Rubens and the nude painting | El Prado Museum |
Session 11 | The decoration of El Buen Retiro Palace | El Prado Museum |
Session 12 | Midterm Exam | IES Abroad Center |
Session 13 | Las Hilanderas and the dwarfs of Velázquez | El Prado Museum |
Session 14 | Las Meninas of Velázquez | El Prado Museum |
Session 15 | Carlos II and the end of the Velázquez tradition | El Prado Museum |
Session 16 | An illustrated project | El Prado Museum |
Session 17 | Goya's tapestry cartoons I | El Prado Museum |
Session 18 | Goya's tapestry cartoons II | El Prado Museum |
Session 19 | Course-related excursion: Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida | Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida |
Session 20 | The Family of Carlos IV and Las Majas | El Prado Museum |
Session 21 | Goya: The war of independence | El Prado Museum |
Session 22 | The graphic work | IES Abroad |
Session 23 | Goya: The black paintings | El Prado Museum |
Session 24 | Goya: The last years | El Prado Museum |
Session 25 | Final Exam | IES Abroad |
- Portús, Javier, Velázquez, guía de la colección, Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2012
General Course
- Brown, Jonathan, La Edad de Oro de la Pintura en España, Madrid, Nerea, 1990
- Luna, Juan J. y Úbeda, Andrés, Guía Pintura europea del siglo XVIII, Madrid, Museo del Prado, 1997
El Greco
- Marías, Fernando, El Greco, historia de un pintor extravagante, San Sebastián, Nerea, 2013
Velázquez
- Portús, Javier (Ed.), Velázquez y la familia de Felipe IV, [1650-1680], Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2013
Goya
- Mena, Manuela (Ed.), Guía. Goya y la Pintura española del siglo XVIII, Madrid, Museo del Prado, 2000
- Matilla, José Manuel y Mena, Manuela, Goya, luces y sombras. Obras maestras del Museo del Prado, Tokyo, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2011