Auto-de-fe

    This is a painting done by Pedro Berruguete on an oil panel. This artwork was painted in 1945. This painting demonstrates a ceremony know as auto-da-fe (act of faith). During the middle ages in Spain, there were three dominant religions such as Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In 1492 the coexistence of these three religions ended. Anyone who was not a Christian was expelled, many of the Muslims and Jews were forced to convert to Christianity. Ferdinand and Isabella established a Catholic institution known as The Inquisition. The officials within the institution were often very suspicious of the newly converted Christians. They did not think that they truly believed in Christianity, this often led to persecutions, imprisonments, and burnings. The painting above it shows the ceremony known as an act of faith. On the right side of the painting, there are two men tied to a post about to be burned. These men probably newly converted Christians who were wrongly accused. At the top of the painting, you will see the officials overseeing the ceremony talking about the accused. They are placed in a box above the other people to show that they are of power. Not everyone has the access to box. There is a man in the center sat upon a throne. He looks as if he is praying with a person to the right of him. There are many people in the painting watching the ceremony. This to me shows that it was a public burning and the whole institution must attend. There are also many guards who are doing the burning and ready to strike at anyone who wants to interrupt the ceremony. The painting itself is exquisite. There are many details such as many rocks and cracks on the ground are shown. The steps throughout the painting have a lot of dimensions as do the people. It is as if the painting is going to come to life at any moment. Many of the people are dressed in some form of robes which is often worn within the Christian religion by those who are high up in the catholic church.

 

Sources

Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank, "The Renaissance in Spain," in Smarthistory, July 1, 2018, accessed February 1, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/the-renaissance-in-spain/.