Copies of Flemish Masters in the Hispanic World (1500-1700): Flandes by Substitution

The artistic heritage of the regions that once formed part of the former Spanish Empire includes a large number of painted copies after Flemish masters made during the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries. Most of these works have received little attention, even though they constitute a valuable source for understanding the artistic influence of the Southern Netherlands on Spanish and Latin American art and society in this period. Indeed, the study of copies of Flemish masters sheds light on a number of art historical issues, including the means of diffusion of artistic models, stylistic trends and the dynamics of the art market and the world of collecting. These copies are a valuable testimony to the political, commercial and cultural ties that existed between the Hispanic territories and the Southern Netherlands.