Juan Agustín Ceán Bermúdez

JUAN AGUSTÍN CEÁN BERMÚDEZ (Gijón, 1749-Madrid, 1829).
"Sumario de antigüedades romanas de España" (Summary of Roman antiquities of Spain).
Printer: Miguel de Burgos, Madrid, 1832.
Slight stains and restorations.
Measurements: 32 x 23 x 4 cm.
Juan Agustín Ceán Bermúdez was a key figure in Spanish Enlightenment culture and is considered the founder of modern art historiography in Spain. A friend of intellectuals such as Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos and artists such as Francisco de Goya, he combined his career in the administration -with relevant positions linked to institutions such as the Archivo de Indias- with intense research work. His most influential work was the Diccionario histórico de los más ilustres profesores de las bellas artes en España (1800), a fundamental reference for its documentary rigor and modern approach, far removed from myths and legends. He also stood out for his studies on art and architecture, as well as for his participation in the description of the royal collections that would give rise to the Prado Museum.
Ceán introduced in Spain a way of studying art based on historical veracity and critical analysis, contributing decisively to the revaluation of Spanish painting and laying the foundations for its scientific study.