A period of unparalleled wealth and prestige, Spain’s Golden Age (1492–1659) was one of conquest, Catholicism, and a spectacular cultural explosion that gave rise to some of the country’s most treasured masterpieces.

Following Columbus’s discovery of the New World in 1492, Spain entered an era of unprecedented power and influence as explorers and conquistadors plundered the riches of the Indies. For nearly 200 years, the combination of New World gold and fervent Christianity had a profound effect on art, as wealthy patrons commissioned both lavish portraits and inspirational works. Featuring José de Ribera’s Immaculate Conception, El Greco’s Toledo, and Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas, renowned art historian Joan Sureda’s comprehensive volume is the first book to explore Golden Age painting alongside sculpture and architecture to give a complete portrait of this opulent era.