Illustration in Spain: what it was and its characteristics

We explain what the Enlightenment was in Spain, its characteristics, history and the intellectuals who represented the movement.

Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos was one of the main enlightened men of Spain.

What was the Enlightenment in Spain?

The Enlightenment in Spain It was an intellectual movement of the 18th century led by thinkers who practiced critical thinking. The enlightened They relied on reason and science to achieve knowledge and promote economic progress and public happiness. The Enlightenment in Spain It emerged in the context of the European Enlightenment, which had a special presence in France.

The Enlightenment in Spain had different stages and received the support of some Bourbon kings, especially Charles III, who personified “enlightened despotism” and implemented reforms with the advice of enlightened ministers and advisors. The Enlightenment thinkers of Spain were interested in physiocratic and liberal economic theories, but they did not adopt revolutionary positions.

During the years of the Enlightenment in Spain Academies were founded, educational institutions were created and renovated, scientific activities were promoted, and books and magazines were published. both science and literature.

Characteristics of the Enlightenment in Spain

The Enlightenment in Spain was part of the general framework of the European Enlightenment, which developed during the 18th century and had special relevance in France. The ideas of the Enlightenment encouraged critical spirit, faith in reason, trust in science and didactic desire.

The influences of the Enlightenment in Spain came mainly from French and Italian thinkers.

The Spanish enlightened were a cultured minority made up of nobles, civil servants, bourgeois and clerics. They were basically interested in:

• The rReform and reactivation of the economy (they gave importance to the so-called “useful sciences”, which could have a practical application, and to the improvement of the educational system).
• Moderate criticism of some aspects of the country’s social reality.
• The new liberal political ideas (although, for the most part, they did not support revolutionary approaches).

The reformist zeal of the Spanish enlightened led them to confront the Church and most of the aristocracy. However, Some became ministers of the Bourbon kings and promoted reforms from the State. Despite the enlightened impulses of the 18th century, most of the country remained attached to traditional values.

Stages of the Enlightenment in Spain

First stage of the Enlightenment in Spain

Benito Jerónimo Feijoo disseminated the scientific ideas of Isaac Newton in Spain.

In the history of the Enlightenment in Spain two stages can be distinguished. In the first stage, corresponding to the first half of the 18th century, two figures stood out.

One was the religious Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1676-1764), whose work focused on lThe dissemination of the science of Isaac Newton and in the criticism of traditional prejudices and superstitions (many of his essays were published in several volumes between 1726 and 1740 with the title of Universal critical theater).

The other relevant figure of this period was the jurist and linguist Gregorio Mayans (1699-1781), who proposed educational changes and defended critical examination for historical knowledge.

During this first period of the Enlightenment in Spain, the main academies were created, instruments for the dissemination of the “enlightenment” that had the support of King Philip V (1700-1746) and King Ferdinand VI (1746-1759):

• the Royal Academy of Language, or Royal Spanish Academy (1713), founded by Juan Manuel Fernández Pacheco in imitation of the French Academy
• the Royal Medical Academy (1734)
• the Royal Academy of History (1738)
• the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando (1752)
• the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid (1755).

Second stage of the Enlightenment in Spain

King Charles III promoted enlightened reforms, advised by ministers and advisors.

Although the reigns of Philip V and Ferdinand VI were characterized by their reformist drive, with enlightened ministers and advisors such as Giulio Alberoni, José Patiño or the Marquis of Ensenada, The Enlightenment reached its peak in Spain in the second stage, under the reign of Charles III (1759-1788).

The ministers of this monarch, such as the Marquis of Esquilache, the Count of Campomanes or the Count of Floridablanca, They implemented various enlightened reforms with the intention of raising the economic and cultural level of the country. Royal sponsorship of enlightened reforms was called “enlightened despotism.”

At this stage, the writings of the Count of Campomanes, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Antonio de Capmany and Francisco Cabarrús stood out. In general, these thinkers They incorporated the economic theories of physiocracy and economic liberalism.

The result of this interest in economic and social affairs was the creation of the Royal Economic Societies of Friends of the Country, which had the approval of Charles III. These associations were responsible for disseminating “useful sciences.” (as they called the sciences that could have a specific application to promote economic development).

The interest in education and scientific progress at this stage materialized in the creation of new secondary education institutions (Reales Estudios de San Isidro) and higher education (Royal College of Surgery, School of Mineralogy, School of Civil Engineers). .

Reforms were also implemented in universities and colleges and the Royal Cabinet of Natural History was created (1771). One of the most outstanding features of the reformist and enlightened impulse of Carlos III was the renovation and modernization of the urban fabric of Madrid.

The development of experimental sciences was important at this stage, with personalities such as José Celestino Exit and Antonio José Cavanilles in biology, Antonio de Ulloa and Jorge Juan in astronomy and cartography or Andrés Piquer in medicine.

Furthermore, enlightened thought was expressed in didactic and critical literature, with authors such as Feijoo, Jovellanos, José Cadalso and Leandro Fernández de Moratín, and gave an important boost to the press and literary and scientific magazines.

Representatives of the Enlightenment in Spain

Among the main representatives of the Enlightenment in Spain, the following stand out:

• Manuel Martí (1663-1737). He was actually a predecessor of the Enlightenment, belonging to the group of the innovators (renovators) who promoted humanist and scientific ideas.
• Benedict Jerome Feijoo (1676-1764). Belonging to the first stage of the Enlightenment in Spain, he criticized superstitions and spread the ideas of philosophers and scientists such as Isaac Newton. His greatest work was entitled Universal critical theatre.
• Gregory Mayans (1699-1781). He defended the need for a critical historical examination to understand the past, held discussions on linguistics and proposed educational changes.
• Marquis of Esquilache (1699-1785). He was an Italian politician who served as Charles III’s finance minister and designed many of this king’s enlightened reforms.
• Marquis of Ensenada (1702-1781). He was a minister and enlightened advisor during the reigns of Philip V, Ferdinand VI and Charles III, and promoted various tax reforms.
• Andrés Piquer (1711-1772). He was a doctor with enlightened ideas who participated in the court of Fernando VI, published books on medicine, philosophy and logic and was vice president of the Royal Academy of Medicine.
• George John (1713-1773). He stood out in astronomy and cartography and collaborated with Antonio de Ulloa.
• Antonio de Ulloa (1716-1795). He was an enlightened scientist who dedicated himself to astronomy and was recognized for having discovered platinum.
• Pedro Rodríguez de Campomanes (1723-1802). He was one of the enlightened ministers of Charles III, but fell from grace when Charles IV acceded to the throne of Spain.
• Count of Floridablanca (1728-1808). He was minister of Charles III and retained his position during the beginning of the reign of Charles IV.
• José Cadalso (1741-1782). He was a military man and one of the main writers of the Spanish enlightenment movement.
• Antonio de Capmany (1742-1813). He was a politician, historian and served as a deputy in the Cortes of Cádiz.
• Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos (1744-1811). He stood out as a writer, politician and jurist, he developed the Report on the agrarian law to liberalize agricultural lands and encouraged educational reforms.
• Antonio José Cavanilles (1745-1804). He was an important botanist with enlightened ideas.
• Francisco Cabarrús (1752-1810). Of French origin, he devised financial innovations and stood out as a civil servant.
• Leandro Fernandez de Moratin (1760-1828). He was a poet and playwright.

Follow with:

References

• Amalric, J.-P. & Domergue, L. (2001). Spain of the Enlightenment (1700-1833). Criticism.
• Dominguez Ortiz, A. (2005). Charles III and the Spain of the Enlightenment. Alliance.
• Duignan, B. (2022). Enlightenment. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
• Elorza, A. (2021). Enlightenment and liberalism in Spain. Tecnos.Sanchez Blanco, F. (1997). The Enlightenment in Spain. Akal.