Description
Perspectives on the Peninsular War
Book Summary
This catalog offers a visual and documentary journey through the Peninsular War via the collections of the National Library of Spain. The work brings together prints, drawings, and documents from institutions such as the British Museum and the Prado Museum, including key pieces by Goya essential for understanding The Disasters of War. An essential publication for those seeking an artistic and historical perspective on this conflict.
What is it about?
The book is the catalog for the eponymous exhibition held at the National Library of Spain between February and May 2008. Its pages compile the exhibited works, drawn from the National Library's own holdings and complemented by loans from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the National Gallery of Scotland, the British Museum, the Hamburger Kunsthalle, the Calcografía Nacional, and the Museo Nacional del Prado. Particularly notable are Goya's drawings, which are fundamental for a deep understanding of his series of etchings, The Disasters of War. Through these pieces, the volume analyzes the representation of the conflict from multiple perspectives—both Spanish and European—offering a multifaceted vision of the war and its consequences.
Main Themes
- Artistic representation of the Peninsular War (1808–1814).
- Analysis of Francisco de Goya’s graphic series, The Disasters of War.
- 19th-century prints and drawings by Spanish and European artists.
- Historical and visual documentation preserved in national and international libraries and museums.
- War as a subject in art and its iconographic evolution.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is recommended for art historians, specialists in contemporary Spanish history, collectors of exhibition catalogs, and enthusiasts of prints and engravings. It will also be of great interest to students and teachers wishing to delve into Goya's graphic work and the visual culture of the Napoleonic Wars.
What this book offers
- Access to a unique selection of works from six international institutions, many of which are rarely seen together.
- A detailed understanding of Goya’s Disasters of War through preparatory drawings and key prints.
- A comparative view of how Spanish, French, and British artists represented the same conflict.
- A high-value documentary record for research and the study of war art.
Technical Specifications
- Author: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL
- Publisher: Biblioteca Nacional de España
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: ARTISTS, ART MONOGRAPHS, EXHIBITION AND SPECIFIC COLLECTION CATALOGS, NAPOLEONIC WARS
- Collection: CATALOGS AND MONOGRAPHS
- Binding: Other
- Publication Date: January 2008
- Number of pages: 332
- Weight: 1141 g
Editorial Assessment
This is a reference publication for the study of the iconography of the Peninsular War, endorsed by the collaboration of major European cultural institutions. The value of the catalog lies in the quality of the reproductions and the inclusion of graphic materials by Goya that illuminate his creative process. A rigorous and visually rich work, aimed at a specialized audience seeking first-hand documentation.