ECUSA DC Seminar Series III: Representing Science in Early Modern Spain

Together with the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in the US, the Association of Spanish Scientists in the USA (ECUSA) in Washington DC, we are delighted to bring this series of scientific seminars addressing varied topics, as global challenges for a more sustainable future, or the relationship between science and other disciplines.

During the Early Modern Age, artists undertook the representation of the numerous scientific novelties of their time. These images were quickly disseminated in books and prints, thanks to the printing press, as well as in other formats such as paintings or tapestries. But the rules of art maintained their own codes of representation that clashed with the pretended scientific objectivity. This presentation will attempt to answer several questions: should we treat 16th and 17th century representations as if they were photographs of their time? Were shapes or colors altered to make them more understandable? Were there limits to the representation of the sources of knowledge in the past? And lastly, do we still modify scientific images today to adapt them to the visual codes of the general public? Anatomy books, drawings of botanical expeditions, maps, paintings and other objects will help us to resolve all these doubts and to look at the works of art of the Early Modern Age with the eyes of another era.

This seminar is intended for a non-specialized audience. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with these internationally renowned experts in the Q&A sessions.

Sergio Ramiro Ramírez, PhD, is a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of History of the Superior Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC).

He has also been a a researcher Juan de la Cierva in the Department of History and Theory of Art at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and currently, he is a member of the Research Groups "Historia del Arte y Cultura Visual" (CSIC), "La corte española: arte, artistas y mecenas" (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), and "Historia Cultural de los Siglos de Oro"(Universidad Autónoma de Madrid). He had obtained different scholarships to develop research stays in centers such as the Fondazione di Studi di Storia dell'Arte Roberto Longhi in Florence, the Spanish School of History and Archaeology in Rome (CSIC), the Courtauld Institute in London and the ViennaCenter for the History of Collecting.

His research interests are focused on the artistic patronage at the Courts of Charles V and Philip II, the female artistic agency during the Early Modern Age as well as on the artistic exchanges between Italy, Central Europe and the Hispanic Monarchy during the Sixteenth Century.

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Important Information (please read carefully)

• A reservation on Eventbrite is mandatory, printed tickets are not required.
• Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Doors open 20 minutes before posted showtime.
• Ticket holders will have access to the event while space is available. A reservation does not guarantee admission.
• Ticket holders should arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start to guarantee seats.
• No Late Seating, ticket holders may not be allowed to enter 15 minutes after posted showtime.
• Right of admission reserved.
• If you need special assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

Additional Visitor Guidelines and Safety Measures

This activity takes place indoors. By registering, you are acknowledging that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists by attending this event on the premises of the Embassy of Spain. You and any family members and guests voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

How to get there:

The best way to arrive is by public transportation. The closest Metro station is Columbia Heights (Green and Yellow line). Limited metered and two-hour zoned parking is available in the surrounding neighborhoods. Public parking garage is available at DC USA Shopping Mall (Columbia Heights Metro Station).

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain, 2801 16th Street Northwest, Washington, United States