The revival of classical antiquity and the encroachment of Renaissance Culture spreading throughout 15^th century Europe didn’t influence Spain at the time. In this aspect, Spain seemed to remain isolated and disconnected from the rest of the continent, still ruled by traditional medieval style. Thus, when these ideas finally did reach Spain, the influence of Italian and Northern Renaissance along with the local Spanish style, combined to form a new and unique style. Forged during the 16^th century, this style evolved into the Spanish Golden Era of the 17^th century.

We will attempt to analyze this process and examine the influence of several elements on the development of the Spanish Golden Era:

The influence of foreign artists, living and working in Spain; The growing interest of the Patrons in Foreign Art, leaving the local patronage almost entirely in the hands of the church; The historical and political contexts of Charles V and Philip II regimes’.

We will discuss painting, sculpture and architecture, while focusing on the work of eminent artists such as El Greco, Velázquez and Zurbarán.

Through the Spanish example we will also examine the boundaries and monolithic approach in Renaissance study, which focuses on the Italian Renaissance as well as the examination of the migration of ideas, knowledge and material culture from and to Spain.