The concept of "Melancholia" and its realization in Spanish polychrome sculpture of 17 century

Abstract

The article is concerned to the theme of melancholia — in frame of Spanish baroque polychrome sculpture of 17th century. Presumably, it is not fair to say that the subject of the ‘melancholy’ in Spanish baroque have not been learned in relation to the culture of the seventeenth century, but it needs to be considered as original and new from scientific perspective in relation to the polychrome wood. If the polychrome sculpture is a product of dialectic relations between idealistic and naturalistic tendencies in the Baroque art, the article focuses on both nature of polychrome sculpture and melancholic feelings of Spanish people in the seventeenth century. It makes some suppositions about melancholic character of baroque in Spain, where the most non-symbolic substantial example could be found in polychrome plastic. The article concludes that if melancholia had been “el mal del siglo”, the polychrome wood would give us an example of struggle against melancholia, and it can be used paradoxical psychotherapeutic method.

Keywords:

Spain, baroque, melancholia, polychrome sculpture