Bird's-eye view of the monastery of El Escorial, from a series of Views of El Escorial 1785 - 1795

This is a print of the Monastery of El Escorial, made by Tomás López Enguidanos around the turn of the 19th century. Prints such as these were made in Spain to celebrate national monuments, representing symbols of power and prestige, which often served to reinforce a sense of national identity and cultural pride. This bird's eye view emphasizes the vastness of the monastery, conveying a sense of grandeur and importance. During this time, the Spanish monarchy and the Catholic Church were closely intertwined, and El Escorial served as a royal residence, a monastery, and a center of religious learning. By creating and disseminating images of El Escorial, artists contributed to the construction of a collective memory and a shared understanding of Spanish history and identity. As historians, we can research the printmaking industry in Spain at the time, explore the patronage networks that supported artists like Enguidanos, and study the reception of these images by the public. This helps us understand how the artwork reflects and reinforces the values and ideologies of its time.