Representations of the Past in Visual Form as a Tool in Educational Process. An Example of History of Spain Till XIX Century

Thanks to the development of technology, since the 19th century historiography has been supported by numerous visual and audiovisual sources (photographs, recordings, films), which did not exist in earlier historical periods, and which are of great importance in the education process in our world dominated by visual communication. Works of art offer a wide range of useful material very helpful to enrich historical knowledge. This paper examines selected examples of artistic works from different times of Spanish history to show their value and utility in supporting educational process: the representation of the medieval legend and miracle in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada (architecture and living animals); medieval vision of word in the Tapestry of Creation in the Museum of the Cathedral of Girona; three concepts of unity in the government policy of the Catholic Kings Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille in the Main Altarpiece of the Royal Chapel of Granada; paintings of Jan Kornelisz Vermeyen documenting Tunis campaign of the Emperor Charles V as a project for the monumental series of tapestries; the battle paintings of Hall of the Kingdoms in Buen Retiro Palace glorifying Filip IV; paintings and engraving of Francisco Goya reflecting Napoleonic invasion and the same period presented in caricatures of Thomas Rowlandson. Visual representations of historical events allow us to imagine places and persons, they facilitate knowledge acquisition, but also give us an opportunity to experience a work of art in its various forms, get to know its function and aesthetic values, which is a perfect complement to historical education.