Cervantes, Raphael and the Classics

A study of classical influences on Cervantes, with particular attention to Raphael.

Frederick A. de Armas (Author)

9780521593021, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 June 1998

256 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.5 kg

"De Armas has produced highly perceptive reading of cultrual encodings of myth, allegory, and visual symbol and demonstrated their importance for interpretation of early modern Spanish literary texts." Renaissance Quarterly

Although much has been written about literary, cultural, and artistic influences in the work of Cervantes, at the time of this book's publication very little had been said about his interest in the classics. Frederick de Armas argues convincingly in this book that throughout his literary career, Cervantes was interested in the classical authors of Greece and Rome. Rather than looking at Cervantes' texts in relation to other literary works, this book demonstrates how Cervantes' experiences in Italy and his observation of Italian Renaissance art - particularly the works of Raphael at the Vatican - led him to create new images and structures in his works.

List of illustrations
Preface
1. The politics of imitation
2. Raphael: a Vatican of the mind
3. Raphael: the archaeology of power
4. Giulio Romano: remembering Rome
5. Aeschylus: praising the enemy
6. Homer: an epic contest
7. Virgil: prophesying Empire
8. Lucan: the necromancy of imitation
9. Contaminatio: epic flames/textual ashes
10. Cicero/Macrobius: intimations of immortality
Notes
Works sited
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK], Renaissance art [ACND]