This third volume of the series of Art History in Latin America and the Philippines, supervised by Professor of Art History of the University of Granada Rafael López Guzmán and scientifically coordinated by professors María Luisa Bellido Gant and Rodrigo Gutiérrez Visuales completes the project given by the Publishing House of the University of Granada to a group of professors of the Department of Art History to publish three manuals (presented under the title «didactic materials») for the subjects concerning Art and Architecture of America and the Philippines taught in this degree course.
The volume, that has just been edited, deals with plastic arts between the 16th and 20th centuries and completes the first two books, respectively devoted to Pre-Hispanic Cultures and Architecture and Urbanism (centuries 16-20).
The contents of the book are structured in chapters corresponding to outstanding cultural moments of American History and, as they did in the previous editions, each of them includes different comments of the most representative works and a documental appendix to make classroom comments and debates easier. Lastly, this book is completed with a basic bibliography of classic works with easy access in Spanish University Libraries. Likewise, a CD Rom has been incorporated to the edition and allows to follow the printed text with colour pictures.
According to the authors of this volume, “these «didactic materials» intend to present a panorama of the evolution of architecture, painting, sculpture and other artistic displays in Latin America from the perspective of its integration in the historical process of the cultural evolution of the continent”.
The Art of the New World
Although «cultural miscegenation» also developed in Pre-Columbian civilizations, where particularly Middle American and Andean empires integrated different facets and displays of other dominated ethnic groups, the authors say that “in this 3rd volume we have opted to develop the artistic trajectories from the so-called «meeting of two worlds» at the end of the 15th century, as there is a specific volume devoted to the pre-Hispanic world. One of our objectives in these «didactic materials» is to show a balance between the significance of the Hispanic contributions and that of other sources in American culture, analyse the adaptation and change processes of such contributions and, at the same time, to emphasize again the peculiarities of New World’s cultures in their different displays”.
From this perspective, the insertion of American culture in the context of the History of Western World meant a strong reciprocal impact as, although the European presence definitely altered the nature of the old regional cultures and gave them awareness of continental unity. The new world scene would also modify habits and costumes in central countries, as American gold and silver made the construction of the ecumenical empire of the Hapsburgs possible.”
Referencia
Professor Rodrigo Gutiérrez Viñuales. Dpt. Art History.
Tel. 958 242 318 / 958 242 319 (department)
E-mail. rgutierr@ugr.es
Professor María Luisa Bellido Gant. Dpt. Art History.
Tel. 958 243 627 / 958 242 319 (department)
E-mail. mbellido@ugr.es
