The EscorialArt and Power in the Renaissance
Henry Kamen
Colossal and imposing, the Escorial has played a key role in four centuries of Spanish history, from its commissioning by Philip II in 1563 to its current status as a World Heritage Site. Kamen discusses Philip's motivation, the influence of his travels, the meaning of the building's design and its place in Spanish culture; he explains how this monastery-cum-palace, which was for some a symbol of superstition and oppression, reflects the Spanish imperial preoccupations of art, religion and power.