" Five kilometers from Santa Elena the northernmost town in the province of Jaén, with the passage of Despeñaperros, there is a place where the remains of ancient weapons are so plentiful that for centuries have had the peasants of the region of iron needed to manufacture their tools. It is the battleground of Las Navas de Tolosa. "
The conclusion of the last diorama choral group "The happy Turlurones " representing the singing of "Te Deum Laudamus" at the end of the battle of Las Navas, based on illustrations by Angel Garcia Pinto - me given rise this week to discuss, from an artistic point of view, the battle more important and most influential in the "Reconquista".
Historically, the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (July 16, 1212) marked the entry of Christians in the heart Al-Andalus shortly after conquering the valley of the Guadalquivir. The victory of the Christian allies (Castilian, Navarrese, Aragonese and French) would contribute to the collapse of the Almohad Empire and the rebellion of the Andalusians to get rid of them, so that Muslim disunity would further facilitate the English conquest.
Las Navas de Tolosa by Francisco de Paula Van Halen
The representation of the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in the art, saving his inclusion in the miniatures of the Cantigas de Santa María Alfonso X the Wise (1284), has been limited primarily to historicism of the nineteenth century painters.
is in this century, with the help of the Romantic movement and Realism, is a key when history painting. The reason lies in the awakening of nationalism in Europe, being reflected in our country, the historical research of national origins in the form of tables which translate grand historic moments, accomplishments or military victories.
The Santa Cruz Win at the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa Marceliano of Santa Maria
Perhaps of all the works that refer to the battle, the most significant is the painted in 1864 by Francisco de Paula Van Halen (1810-1887), which, although belonging to the Museo del Prado, has been deposited since 1879 in the Senate building in Madrid.
The Triumph of Santa Cruz in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa Marceliano of Santa Maria (1866-1952), dated 1892, is one of the best known. Your current location is the Museum Marceliano Santa Maria in Burgos.
The Palace of the Government of Navarra in Pamplona hosts two representations of the battle: a canvas painted in 1864 by Francisco Aznar (1831-1911), and an impressive tapestry made in 1950 by Vicente Pascual based on a design by the painter Ramón Stolz. Also in Navarra, a little further north, at Roncesvalles, the pilgrims who visit the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria can admire the beautiful stained glass window that contains the time when King Sancho VII the Strong assaults chains that protect the caliph Miramamolín.
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa by Victor Morelli
Las Navas de Tolosa by Horace Vernet. Versailles
Other artists of the time as Antonio Casanova and Estorach (1847-1896), Victor Morelli (1860-1936) and Horace Vernet French (1789-1863) also left their personal interpretation of Las Navas de Tolosa.
Finally, I'd recommend visit the Museum of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa , a great and modern exhibition space at the foot of Despeñaperros, which invites visitors to evoke that momentous contest.
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