Spanish school; 17th century and later.

Spanish school; 17th century and later.
"View of San Lorenzo del Escorial".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Presents restorations and Repainting.
Measurements: 29 x 49 cm; 43,5 x 63 cm (frame).
In this canvas the author offers us an aerial view of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, represented with great architectural precision and an elevated perspective that allows us to contemplate the imposing structure in its totality. The composition shows the building framed by a vast and serene landscape, with gentle hills and a sky of muted tones that reinforce the majesty of the whole. The light, characteristic of the Spanish Golden Age tradition, is subtly distributed, accentuating the volumes and the solidity of the stone, while small details.
This type of representation, with a marked topographical character, had a double function in 17th century Spanish painting. On the one hand, it accurately documented the architectural achievements of the kingdom, in this case, one of the most emblematic constructions of the Hispanic monarchy. On the other, it served as an exaltation of the power and grandeur of the Crown, linking the image of El Escorial with the idea of order, faith and earthly dominion.
Panoramic and landscape views were a less frequent genre in Spanish painting of the time, dominated by tenebrism and religious representation, but we find significant examples in the work of painters such as Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, a disciple of Velázquez, who knew how to combine descriptive rigor with an evocative atmosphere. In this sense, the views of El Escorial are not only a visual testimony of the grandeur of the monument, but also a sample of the ability of painting to capture the splendor of the landscape and architecture of the Spanish Golden Age.