Antonio Ponz facts for kids
Antonio Ponz Piquer (born in 1725, died on December 4, 1792) was an important Spanish painter and writer. He is best known for his detailed travel books about Spain.
He was born in a town called Bejís in Spain. Antonio Ponz first learned painting in Valencia and then moved to Madrid to study more. He also spent a short time in Rome, Italy. Later, he helped restore and organize artworks at El Escorial, a famous Spanish palace and monastery. In 1776, he became the secretary of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, a major art academy in Spain.
About His Life
Antonio Ponz had a very good education. He studied many subjects like humanities, arts, and theology. He lived in Italy from 1751 to 1760, where he learned even more about art. In Italy, he met important people like Pedro Francisco Jiménez de Góngora y Luján, who would later lead the Spanish Royal Academy of History. He also became friends with the famous painter Anton Raphael Mengs.
Ponz studied classical art and history while in Italy. He even visited Naples in 1759 to see the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which had just been discovered.
In 1773, he was chosen as a scholar of history. In 1776, he became the Secretary of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. He was also a member of other important societies in Spain.
Antonio Ponz played a big part in the cultural plans of the House of Bourbon, the royal family of Spain. He helped collect and organize artworks and historical items for the library at El Escorial. He also managed the portrait gallery there, even making copies of some famous Italian paintings himself.
Journeys Around Spain
King Carlos III asked Antonio Ponz to travel around Spain. His job was to check on the art treasures that used to belong to the Jesuits. The Jesuits were a religious group that had recently been asked to leave Spain in 1767.
After his travels, Ponz published his famous book series called Voyage around Spain (Viage de España). This collection of letters shared "news of the most significant events worthy of knowing." The first book came out in 1772. The books described the art, monuments, and historical sites he saw. They also gave a wider look at what life was like in Spain at that time.
Ponz noticed that many parts of the country were not very populated or well-used. He felt that the art scene in Spain was not as strong as it had been in earlier times. He also didn't like the very ornate style of art called Baroque.
Because of his important work, King Carlos III rewarded him. The King gave him money and helped him become the Secretary of the Academy of San Fernando in 1776.
In 1785, Ponz published another book called Voyage beyond Spain (Viaje fuera de España). This book was about his trip around Europe in 1783. He wanted to show that Spain was a great country and also bring new ideas from other European countries back to Spain. In this book, he wrote about the art, economy, and social life in places like the Netherlands, England, and France.
His Books
- Voyage around Spain, or letters in which there is news of the most significant and worthy of knowing (1772–1794): This was a huge work with 18 volumes. It covered many different regions and cities in Spain, describing their art, history, and culture.
- Some of the places he wrote about include: Madrid, Toledo, Valencia, Seville, Segovia, Valladolid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Córdoba.
- Travel outside of Spain (1785): This book had 2 volumes. It described his journeys through the Netherlands, England, Holland, Belgium, and France.
These two important works have been republished several times, allowing new generations to read about Antonio Ponz's fascinating journeys and observations.
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In Spanish: Antonio Ponz para niños
