Image of Spain in German Perspective Views of the 18th Century
Colorful perspective views were widespread in Europe in the 18th century and probably played an important role in the formation of ideas about a particular country. The image of Spain in such popular prints was diverse. French and English publishers focused on different aspects - baroque palaces and naval battles. In Germany, fascinating and spectacular theatrical performances on Spanish themes were created on paper. They were tied to historical events of that time through details, subject, and the choice of the depicted city. Fantastical canal embankments and palace facades were associated with the wealth of Spanish trade (in the case of Cadiz) or with recent wars (in cases of Barcelona and Menorca). This leads to assumptions that the basis of the phenomenon of perspective views was the spectacular plausibility of the Baroque art, complemented by an optical instrument (zograscope), and already familiar to the German viewer from the broadsheets of the previous 17th century.