Atheneo de Grandesa
Encyclopedia
The Atheneo de Grandesa is an emblem book
written in the Catalan language
by Josep Romaguera
and published in 1681 by the printer Joan Jolis in Barcelona
. It contains 15 engraving
s by an unknown artist.
from the Inquisition
, the preliminary materials include the ecclesiastical imprimatur
. The text is dedicated
to the former bishop
of Barcelona, Saint Olaguer.
The text's prologue
is perhaps the most well-known fragment, since it defends Catalan as a literary language in a time when Castilian
was a more frequent vehicle for literature
in Spain
. Romaguera's vindication of the use of literary Catalan was appreciated and cited throughout the eighteenth century in Catalonia
before the more successful Renaixença
of the 19th century, though the actual prose and poetry in the Atheneo were not.
The bulk of the Atheneo is in the form of a prose treatise, much in the style of Baltasar Gracián
, and is divided into 14 chapters called "eminèncias." Each chapter contains several pages of prose
followed by an emblem
, which is in turned explained by a poetic gloss
. In general, the chapters discuss ways of bettering oneself and striving at individual perfection. The prose is rich (or dense, depending on the viewpoint) and allusive. Romaguera's poems have been widely anthologized in Catalan textbooks as he is one of only a few Baroque
poets.
Emblem book
Emblem books are a category of mainly didactic illustrated book printed in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, typically containing a number of emblematic images with explanatory text....
written in the Catalan language
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
by Josep Romaguera
Josep Romaguera
Josep Romaguera is the author of the only emblem book ever published in the Catalan language, the Atheneo de Grandesa. His work consists of prose, poetry and sermons...
and published in 1681 by the printer Joan Jolis in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. It contains 15 engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s by an unknown artist.
Structure
Because the book was printed under censorshipCensorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
from the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
, the preliminary materials include the ecclesiastical imprimatur
Imprimatur
An imprimatur is, in the proper sense, a declaration authorizing publication of a book. The term is also applied loosely to any mark of approval or endorsement.-Catholic Church:...
. The text is dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to the former bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Barcelona, Saint Olaguer.
The text's prologue
Prologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
is perhaps the most well-known fragment, since it defends Catalan as a literary language in a time when Castilian
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
was a more frequent vehicle for literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Romaguera's vindication of the use of literary Catalan was appreciated and cited throughout the eighteenth century in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
before the more successful Renaixença
Renaixença
The Renaixença was an early 19th century late romantic revivalist movement in Catalan language and culture, akin to the Galician Rexurdimento or the Occitan Félibrige movements. The first stimuli of the movement date of the 1830s and 1840s, but the Renaixença stretches up into the 1880s, until it...
of the 19th century, though the actual prose and poetry in the Atheneo were not.
The bulk of the Atheneo is in the form of a prose treatise, much in the style of Baltasar Gracián
Baltasar Gracián
Baltasar Gracián y Morales, SJ was a Spanish Jesuit and baroque prose writer. He was born in Belmonte, near Calatayud .-Biography:...
, and is divided into 14 chapters called "eminèncias." Each chapter contains several pages of prose
Prose
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
followed by an emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
, which is in turned explained by a poetic gloss
Gloss
A gloss is a brief notation of the meaning of a word or wording in a text. It may be in the language of the text, or in the reader's language if that is different....
. In general, the chapters discuss ways of bettering oneself and striving at individual perfection. The prose is rich (or dense, depending on the viewpoint) and allusive. Romaguera's poems have been widely anthologized in Catalan textbooks as he is one of only a few Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
poets.