Ateneo de Madrid
Encyclopedia
The Ateneo de Madrid is a private cultural institution located in the capital of Spain
, originally founded in 1835. Its full name is Ateneo Científico, Literario y Artístico de Madrid ("Scientific, Literary and Artistic Athenæum of Madrid").
s and liberal
s of the early 19th century.
Subsequent to the Napoleonic invasion of Spain
, those who had joined the French cause and supported Joseph Bonaparte
as king of Spain were exiled with him upon the triumph of the Supreme Central Junta
and the Cádiz Cortes
, which enacted in 1812 the first Spanish liberal constitution
.
The restoration of Ferdinand VII in 1814 after the previous year's Treaty of Valençay
, however, brought a return to absolutism and the flight of the Spanish patriots of Cádiz
. Much of the enlightened aristocracy that for one reason or another had been persecuted in Spain took refuge in France and England.
The return of the exiles during the "liberal triennium" from 1820 to 1823 allowed the creation of the Spanish Athenæum, directed by Juan Manuel de los Rios. When King Ferdinand reasserted his absolutism in 1823, however, that institution's scholars went into London exile.
Ferdinand's death in 1833, an amnesty the following year, and the support of liberals for the cause of Isabella II
, still a child, over that of the pretender Don Carlos
, her uncle, created a new atmosphere of tolerance during the regency of Ferdinand's widow Maria Christina
.
In 1835 the former Spanish Ateneo of 1820 was reborn as the Ateneo Científico y Literario de Madrid under the patronage of Salustiano Olózaga, Ángel de Saavedra, Antonio Alcalá Galiano, Ramón de Mesonero Romanos
, Francisco López Olavarrieta, Francisco Fabra and Juan Manuel de los Rios.
In 1923 the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera suspended the activities of the Ateneo.
During the Spanish Civil War
from 1936 to 1939, the Ateneo remained open and managed to preserve the integrity of its facilities, especially its library, thanks to the work of Bernardo G. de Candamo, the only member of the Republican governing council to remain in Madrid during the war. Although the brutal 36-year Franco
dictatorship of General Franco subsumed the Ateneo to the ideological goals of his Falange
party, the subsequent return to democracy under Adolfo Suárez has enabled it to regain its position as a centre of culture of the first order.
) in Madrid — a modernist building opened by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
in 1884. The building, designed by architects Enrique Fort and Luis de Landecho, is adorned with Greek Revival paintings by Arturo Mélida. It has an auditorium, work room, classrooms, exhibition hall, library and archive. The Ateneo has 19 sections that are active in multiple cultural and scientific arenas.
Prominent Spaniards — including Laureano Figuerola, Segismundo Moret
, Gumersindo de Azcárate
, Antonio Alcalá Galiano, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Miguel de Unamuno
, Fernando de los Ríos and Manuel Azaña
— have served as presidents of the Ateneo. On May 28, 2009 Carlos París Amador was elected president. Members have included six Prime Ministers
, all Spanish Nobel Prize winners, Spanish politicians of the Second Republic
and the members of the Generations of 1898, of 1914 and 1927
.
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...
, originally founded in 1835. Its full name is Ateneo Científico, Literario y Artístico de Madrid ("Scientific, Literary and Artistic Athenæum of Madrid").
History
The roots of the Athenæum trace to the ideals of FrancophileFrancophile
Is a person with a positive predisposition or interest toward the government, culture, history, or people of France. This could include France itself and its history, the French language, French cuisine, literature, etc...
s and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
s of the early 19th century.
Subsequent to the Napoleonic invasion of Spain
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
, those who had joined the French cause and supported Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
as king of Spain were exiled with him upon the triumph of the Supreme Central Junta
Supreme Central and Governing Junta of the Kingdom
The Supreme Central and Governing Junta of the Kingdom formally was the Spanish organ that accumulated the executive and legislative powers during the Napoleonic occupation of Spain...
and the Cádiz Cortes
Cádiz Cortes
The Cádiz Cortes were sessions of the national legislative body which met in the safe haven of Cádiz during the French occupation of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars...
, which enacted in 1812 the first Spanish liberal constitution
Spanish Constitution of 1812
The Spanish Constitution of 1812 was promulgated 19 March 1812 by the Cádiz Cortes, the national legislative assembly of Spain, while in refuge from the Peninsular War...
.
The restoration of Ferdinand VII in 1814 after the previous year's Treaty of Valençay
Treaty of Valençay
The Treaty of Valençay , after the château of the same name belonging to French foreign minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, was drafted by Antoine René Mathurin and José Miguel de Carvajal y Manrique on behalf of the French Empire and the Spanish Crown respectively...
, however, brought a return to absolutism and the flight of the Spanish patriots of Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
. Much of the enlightened aristocracy that for one reason or another had been persecuted in Spain took refuge in France and England.
The return of the exiles during the "liberal triennium" from 1820 to 1823 allowed the creation of the Spanish Athenæum, directed by Juan Manuel de los Rios. When King Ferdinand reasserted his absolutism in 1823, however, that institution's scholars went into London exile.
Ferdinand's death in 1833, an amnesty the following year, and the support of liberals for the cause of Isabella II
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
, still a child, over that of the pretender Don Carlos
Infante Carlos, Count of Molina
The Infante Carlos of Spain was the second surviving son of King Charles IV of Spain and of his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma. As Carlos V he was the first of the Carlist claimants to the throne of Spain...
, her uncle, created a new atmosphere of tolerance during the regency of Ferdinand's widow Maria Christina
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was Queen consort of Spain and Regent of Spain .-Early years and first marriage:...
.
In 1835 the former Spanish Ateneo of 1820 was reborn as the Ateneo Científico y Literario de Madrid under the patronage of Salustiano Olózaga, Ángel de Saavedra, Antonio Alcalá Galiano, Ramón de Mesonero Romanos
Ramón de Mesonero Romanos
Ramón de Mesonero Romanos , Spanish prose-writer, was born at Madrid.At an early age he became interested in the history and topography of his native city...
, Francisco López Olavarrieta, Francisco Fabra and Juan Manuel de los Rios.
In 1923 the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera suspended the activities of the Ateneo.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
from 1936 to 1939, the Ateneo remained open and managed to preserve the integrity of its facilities, especially its library, thanks to the work of Bernardo G. de Candamo, the only member of the Republican governing council to remain in Madrid during the war. Although the brutal 36-year Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
dictatorship of General Franco subsumed the Ateneo to the ideological goals of his Falange
Falange
The Spanish Phalanx of the Assemblies of the National Syndicalist Offensive , known simply as the Falange, is the name assigned to several political movements and parties dating from the 1930s, most particularly the original fascist movement in Spain. The word means phalanx formation in Spanish....
party, the subsequent return to democracy under Adolfo Suárez has enabled it to regain its position as a centre of culture of the first order.
Office and membership
The Athenæum's first home was in the Palacio de Abrantès, but it is currently housed at 21 Prado Street (not to be confused with the Paseo del PradoPaseo del Prado
The Paseo del Prado is one of the main boulevards in Madrid, Spain. It runs north-south between the Plaza de Cibeles and the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V , with the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo lying approximately in the middle...
) in Madrid — a modernist building opened by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo
Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was a Spanish politician and historian known principally for his role in supporting the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy to the Spanish throne and for his death at the hands of an anarchist assassin, Michele Angiolillo.-Early career:Born in Málaga as the son of...
in 1884. The building, designed by architects Enrique Fort and Luis de Landecho, is adorned with Greek Revival paintings by Arturo Mélida. It has an auditorium, work room, classrooms, exhibition hall, library and archive. The Ateneo has 19 sections that are active in multiple cultural and scientific arenas.
Prominent Spaniards — including Laureano Figuerola, Segismundo Moret
Segismundo Moret
Segismundo Moret y Prendergast was a Spanish politician and writer.-Biography:He was born in Cádiz on 2 June 1833...
, Gumersindo de Azcárate
Gumersindo de Azcárate
Gumersindo de Azcárate was a Spanish philosopher, jurist and politician.After law studies in Oviedo, he taught comparative law in Madrid since 1864 and represented León in the Cortes...
, Antonio Alcalá Galiano, Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.-Biography:...
, Fernando de los Ríos and Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña
Manuel Azaña Díaz was a Spanish politician. He was the first Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic , and later served again as Prime Minister , and then as the second and last President of the Republic . The Spanish Civil War broke out while he was President...
— have served as presidents of the Ateneo. On May 28, 2009 Carlos París Amador was elected president. Members have included six Prime Ministers
Prime Minister of Spain
The President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...
, all Spanish Nobel Prize winners, Spanish politicians of the Second Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
and the members of the Generations of 1898, of 1914 and 1927
Generation of '27
The Generation of '27 was an influential group of poets that arose in Spanish literary circles between 1923 and 1927, essentially out of a shared desire to experience and work with avant-garde forms of art and poetry. Their first formal meeting took place in Seville in 1927 to mark the 300th...
.
External links
- Website of the Ateneo de Madrid (Spanish language)