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The Story of Seville

PREFACE

Reading edition

IN the story of Seville I have endeavoured to interest the reader in the associations of the buildings and the thoroughfares of the city.

I do not claim to have written a full history of Seville, though I have sketched the salient events in its annals in the opening chapters of this book. The history of Seville is the history of Spain, and if I have omitted many matters of historical importance from my pages, it is because I wished to focus attention upon the city itself. I trust that I have succeeded in awaking here and there an echo of the past, and in bringing before the imagination the figures of Moorish potentate or sage, and of Spanish ruler, artist, priest and soldier.

Those who are acquainted with the history of Spain will appreciate the difficulty that besets the historian in the matter of chronological accuracy, and even in a narration of many of the main events. The chronicles of the Roman, Gothic and Moorish epochs are hardly accepted as reliable. Patriotic bias and religious enthusiasm are elements that frequently mislead in the making of history, though the Spaniard is not alone in the commission of error in this respect.

Seville abounds with human interest. The city may at the first glance slightly disappoint the visitor, but he cannot wander far without a growing sense of its fascination. Most of the noteworthy buildings are hidden amidst narrow alleys, for the designers of the city have shown great economy in utilising space. It is therefore difficult to gain large general views of Seville, unless one ascends the Giralda, while the obtrusion of modern dwelling-houses and stores often mars the view of fine public edifices. But the modernity of Seville seldom strikes one as wholly out of place and in sharp contrast to the ancient monuments. The plan is Morisco, and the impression conveyed is partly Moorish and partly mediæval. In a word, Seville brings us at every step closely in touch with antiquity.

For the chapters on the Artists of Seville I am indebted to C. Gasquoine Hartley (Mrs. Walter M. Gallichan), who has devoted much study to the art of Spain. The drawings by Miss Elizabeth Hartley were prepared while I was gathering material for the book in Seville, and the illustrations will be found to refer to the text. I have also to thank my brother, Mr. F. H. Gallichan, for his plan of the city.

The frontispiece photograph of Goya's picture of SS. Justa and Rufina was reproduced in the Art Journal as an illustration to an article on "Goya" by C. Gasquoine Hartley. My thanks are due to Messrs. Virtue & Company for permission to reproduce the picture in this book.

WALTER M. GALLICHAN.

THE CRIMBLES, YOULGREAVE, BAKEWELL, August 20, 1903.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

PAGE

Romans, Goths and Moors 1

CHAPTER II

The City Regained26

CHAPTER III

Seville under the Catholic Kings62

CHAPTER IV

The Remains of the Mosque73

CHAPTER V

The Cathedral85

CHAPTER VI

The Alcázar110

CHAPTER VII

The Literary Associations of the City 129

CHAPTER VIII

The Artists of Seville146

CHAPTER IX

Velazquez and Murillo165

CHAPTER X

The Pictures in the Museo176

CHAPTER XI

The Churches of the City187

CHAPTER XII

Some Other Buildings201

CHAPTER XIII

Seville of To-day213

CHAPTER XIV

The Alma Mater of Bull-fighters242

CHAPTER XV

Information for the Visitor262

Index269

Alterations made by the etext transcriber

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

SS. Justa and Rufina, from the painting by Goya (photogravure) Frontispiece

Roman Amphitheatre at Italica1

The Guadalquivir3

Roman Walls8

The Pillars of Hercules and Julius Cæsar11

Moorish Fountain in the Court of Oranges23

Roman Capital25

Old Walls of the Alcázar41

Sword of Isabella49

Plaza San Francisco55

Fountain in Bath, Alcázar66

Puerta del Perdón75

Stone Pulpit in Court of Oranges78

Cuerpo de Azucenas79

The Giralda84

Pinnacle of the Cathedral87

Puerta Mayor—The Central Door of the Cathedral89

Pinnacle of the Cathedral91

Interior of the Cathedral97

Patio de las Doncellas111

In the Garden of the Alcázar125

Cancela of the Casa Pilatos133

The Guardian Angel (Murillo)facing 172

The Conception (Murillo)facing 178

The Road to Calvary (Valdés Leal) facing 180

Saint Hugo in the Refectory (Zurbaran) facing 182

The Crucifixion (Montañes) facing 186

Minaret of San Marcus190

Puerta de Santa Maria195

Patio del Casa Murillo203

Amphora212

Patio del Colegio, San Miguel215

The Golden Tower223

A Roof Garden238

Arms of Seville241

Plan of City (not available) facing 268

Roman Amphitheatre at Italica
Roman Amphitheatre at Italica

The Story of Seville

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