Academia literaria

A gathering with literary or artistic overtones From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The academia literaria ('literary academy') was a literary tertulia popular during Spain's Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) of literature and the arts, from the early sixteenth century to the late seventeenth century (c. 1500 – 1681),[1] and especially during the reign of the Spanish Habsburgs and, in particular, that of King Philip II (1556–1598), a significant patron of Spanish art and culture. By the seventeenth century, these literary academies had become "one of the most prominent features of literary life... in Spain",[2] and many leading men of letters, such as Lope de Vega, Luis de Góngora, Luis Vélez de Guevara and Francisco de Quevedo would be members of more than one academia.

Many sought to make their voices heard in the literary gatherings frequented by poets and artists for the amusement and entertainment of nobles and patrons: the academia literaria. Nobles frequently attended these gatherings, with one often assuming the role of Academy president, while a distinguished literary figure took on the position of "secretary". Membership in some academies could require certain qualifications, such as having published multiple works, or just one if it was a heroic poem, though attendance itself did not have such restrictions.[3] Zaragoza, as the capital of the viceroyalty of Aragón was, along with Madrid, one of Spain's most important centres of academic activity in the seventeenth century.[4]

At the end of the first part of Don Quixote (1605), Miguel de Cervantes refers to the 'Academia de Argamasilla', in "a place in La Mancha". In all likelihood there was no such academia, but Cervantes' experience of these literary gatherings led him to make derisive reference to a tertulia of people from La Mancha.[5][6] He also makes more general or specific references to the academias in other, later works, including in "Rinconete y Cortadillo" (Novelas Ejemplares, 1611).[7] Moreover, according to Francisco Márquez Villanueva, Cervantes' Viaje del Parnaso (1614) is a "monumental sarcastic takedown on the pompous aspirations of the academies".[2]

Each gathering would close with a vejamen (lampoon), a satirical piece of prose that was "an integral part of any academy session".[2]

Notable academias in Spain

  • Academia Imitatoria [Academy of the Art of Imitation][8] (Madrid, 1584[8] or c. 1590[7]): Madrid's first academia literaria was mentioned by Juan Rufo in 1596 as imitating the famous Italian academias. Most likely a member of it himself, Cervantes mentions it in his "The Dialogue of the Dogs" (Novelas ejemplares, 1613) as Academia de los Imitadores [Academy of Imitators][8] and again, this time indirectly, in the second part of Don Quixote (1615).[5] Lupercio Leonardo de Argensola, a close friend of Cervantes' was also a member.[8]
  • Academia de los Nocturnos [Literary Society of the Night Revelers][9] (Valencia, 4 October 1591 – April 1594):[10] Its ten founding members were Bernardo Catalán (Silencio), Hernando Pretel (Sueño), Gaspar Aguilar (Sombra), Francisco Pacheco (Fiel), Fabián de Cucaló (Horror), Maximiliano Oscuridad (Matías Fajardo) (Temeridad), Francisco D'Esplugues (Descuido), Francisco Agustin Tarrega (Miedo), Miguel Beneyto (Sosiego) and Gaspar de Villalón (Tinieblas).[10] Another forty-five members would join over the course of this academy's existence,[10] including Guillen de Castro (Secreto),[7] Pelegrín Cathalán (Cuydado), Juan Andrés Núñez (Lucero), Hernando de Balda (Cometa),[2] Estacio Gironella, Evaristo Mont, Andrés Rey de Artieda (Cautela), Jaime Orts (Tristeza),[2] Jerónimo de Virués (Estudio),[10] Guillem Belvis, Gaspar Gracián (Peligro),[10] Manuel Ledesma (Recogimiento),[10] Gaspar Mercader (Relámpago),[10] Juan López Maldonado (Sincero)[10][11] Tomás Cerdán de Tallada (Trueno), Juan Fenollet (Temeroso), Escolano (Luz), and Matías Fajardo (Oscuridad).[12] The academy held 88 weekly sessions over its three years of existence, during which its members submitted 805 works in verse and 88 works in prose.[10]
  • Academia de Pítima (full name: Pítima contra la ociosidad, Aragón, 9 June – 30 August 1608):[4] Founded under the patronage of Count of Guimerà.[12] The Biblioteca Nacional de España has the statutes, minutes, and many of the compositions of this academy preserved in MS. 9396.[4]
  • Academia de Huesca (Aragón, August 1610 – 20 July 1611).[4] Its members included Justo de Torres, Jorge Salinas, Juan Miguel de Luna and Bartolomé Santolaria.[4]
  • Academia de Parnaso, later renamed Academia Salvaje or Academia Madrileña (Madrid, February[18] April 1612 – summer 1614[8]): Founded by Francisco de Silva,[6] its members included Cervantes,[8] Luis Vélez de Guevara, Alonso de Salas Barbadillo, Lope, Quevedo, Góngora.[7] In February 1612, Lope, in one of his regular letters to the Duke of Sessa, mentioned the opening of the Academia del Parnaso at Francisco de Silva's home, adding that "there were no nobles present; they must not yet know of it; it will last until they do".[18]
  • Academia de Montañeses del Parnaso (Valencia, 1616): founded by Guillén de Castro,[6] members included Juan Yagüe de Salas.[4]
  • Academia de los Anhelantes (Zaragoza, active from 1636 to 1646[4]): Founded by Juan Francisco André de Ustarroz,[4] its members included Francisco Díez de Aux, Fernández de Heredia, Bernardo Sanz de Cuenca, Francisco de Freiras, Pedro Francisco Pérez de Soria, Juan Nadal, Martín Peyrón, Juan Lucas García, Tomás Andrés Cebrián,[4] and Lupercio Argensola,[10]
  • (Valladolid, 1601–1605)[4]
  • (Toledo, 1603/1603): Founded by the Count of Fuensalida.[4]
  • (Zaragoza, c. 1620 - 1630): Founded under the patronage of the Viceroy of Aragon, Francisco de Borja (Prince Esquilache), members included Vicente Sánchez, Francisco Montáñez, Francisco del Cerro, Jacinto Marta, Pedro Samper, José Gracian, Felix Espinosa y Malo, Felipe Bardají, Baltasar Villalpando, Luis Sánchez, Joseph Alberto Tudela, Luis Bracho, the Count of Las Almunias, Esteban Galcerán Pinos Castro y Aragón, the Count of Villar, Miguel Cabrero, Manuel Teza, Baltasar Barutel, Vicencio Segovia, Gaspar Segovia, and Diego Gómez y Mendoza.[4]
  • (Cádiz, 1639): Founded by Juan Ignacio de Soto y Avilés, members included Alonso Chirino Bermúdez.[4]
  • (Zaragoza, c. 1650): A later Viceroy of Aragon, the Count of Lemos, founded a new academy whose members included the Duke of Híjar, the Marquis of Torres, the Marquis de San Felices, Jorge la Borda, Silvestre Cabrera, Diego López, Antonio Altarriba, Juan Bautista Alegre, Alberto Díez, Lorenzo Idiáquez and his brother, Doctor Idiáquez, a Doctor Ramírez, Juan Francisco Andrés de Ustarroz, Matías Aguirre, Jose Navarro, and the Count of Lemos' son, the Count of Andrade.[4]
  • (Zaragoza, c. 1650): Around the time that his father, the Count of Lemos, held his academy, the Conde de Andrade would also be the patron of an academy whose members included many of the above literary figures, including the Marquis de San Felices, Juan Francisco Andrés de Ustarroz, Silvestre Cabrera, the Marquis de Cañizar, José Navarro, Jose Bardají, Francisco la Torre, Gaspar Agustín Reus y Coscón, Juan Jaime Esporrín, Juan Lorenzo Ibáñez, Matías Ginovés, and the Licenciado Agreda.[4]
  • (Granada, c. 1652): Founded by Sebastián López Hierro de Castro, its first session included the Discurso contra el ocio y en loor del ejercicio, by Pedro Soto de Rojas.[4]
  • Academia de los Desconfiados (Barcelona, c. 1702): Founded by Pablo Ignasio Delmases y Ros.[4]

Dates unknown

  • Academia de Tarazona.[6]
  • Academia de Mendoza: Members included María de Zayas.[6]
  • Academia del Conde de Aliaga (Madrid).[6]
  • Academia de Juan de Arguijo (Seville): Members included Lope[13] and Cervantes.[8]
  • Academia del Duque de Alcalá (Seville).[13]
  • Academia de los Adorantes (Valencia).[6]
  • Academia de los Soles (Valencia).[13]

See also

References

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