Scene from a sevillian tabern, 17th Century

There was a time when it was most valued honor that personal security; a time in which abounded offenses and duels... Ironically, it was a time when picaresque and common crimes were daily... It was a time of religious fervor and even intolerance, but at the same time was the age of rationalism and Cartesianism... Certainly a time of contrasts...

For the picture I tried to mimic the tenebrism style and the chiaroscuro own of the painting Sevillian School (unsuccessfully, I think)

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Ambush (and others)

We continue with the historic and baroque themes, and also, we tread tenebrism paths...

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Characters that History will not remember (I):the assassin

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I would like to broadly develop the reasons that make interesting Seville, during the Baroque era, as a posible historical setting for a hypothetical Assassins Creed Saga videogame... In this way, we would point out the importance of the port of Seville, known as "Puerto de Indias", thanks to the seaway as alternative to trade with the most exotic and valuable products, from both America and Asia; therefore, Seville was the focus of all interests, mercantile, monetary, political and even to the poorest and most disadvantaged: everyone could find in Seville his chance - even if it was the "picaro" style: that is, cheating and stealing...

It was no wonder, because it is recognized Seville in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, as the "economic capital" of the very Catholic Kingdom of Spain (however, these riches were lost, first, because English and Dutch piracy, and secondly, due to wastage invested by the Spanish kings in their wars in old Europe - for his own personal glory, not for the good of his Spanish vassals, lest we forget)... 

In any case, the Counter-reformist Seville was the perfect breeding ground for bringing together all walks of life, and all kinds of adventures can germinate: We could find in the city an important headquarter for the oppressive and dangerous Inquisition or "Holy Office"; sailors of all nationalities swarmed the harbor taverns, accompanied by local payroll prostitutes, pimps and gamblers; the noble houses (such as Guzman and Ponce de León families) daily competed with each other for supremacy in the city, clashing forces in the streets, under the helpless gaze of the officers of the King; old licensed soldiers of the "Tercios de Flandes", impoverished and unemployed noblemen, looking rent their sword, if not embroiling in duels, seeking to safeguard his honor; how not to mention the brotherhood of organized criminals, known as "Germania" (mentioned by Cervantes himself) with its complex hierarchy, their secret jargon and their shady business; of course, we could find in Seville one of the professed houses of the intriguing Society of Jesus, not to mention  the Jail Pirates of the House of Trade (Casa de Contratación) and, finally, all sorts of characters as priests, monks, scholars, painters, poets, artisans and merchants of all kinds, attracted by the riches that the city promised...

As regards the secular and secret race for power between the Brotherhood of Assassins and the Order of the Temple, Seville else can not provide an ideal scenario for her quarrels and intrigues, plus a wide range of historical monuments to climb and do parkour ..

(to be continued)

Planning the Climb or the Brotherhood in Seville (II)

Always returning to old motifs; this time, back to baroquian Seville, in a quick sketch...

By the way, the watchtower at the bottom pretend to be the relatively known "Torre del Oro", a military defense at the entrance of the city by the Guadalquivir river. It seems a logical place to be climbed by a member of the Assassins Brotherhood...

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The Brotherhood in Seville (I)

Bueno, pues nos hubiera gustado desarrollar más el concepto, con una larga explicación histórica y con pormenores y detalles, pero (como siempre) la escasez de tiempo nos lo hace muy complicado; de manera que ahí lo dejamos. Y mira que ya tiene casi un mes, la ilustración, pero como decimos, estábamos esperando a tener algo de espacio y tiempo para esa explicación...

Eso sí, no podemos dejar de resaltar que hemos colocado a este unnamed assassin en el afamado Callejón de la Inquisición, Triana, Sevilla, y que los atuendos del susodicho vienen a estar inspirados en los ropajes propios de marinos y piratas del siglo XVII, aunque la capa que lleva es más cercana al hábito de los monjes cartujos, ya se sabe, para disimular y escabullirse de alguaciles, corchetes y demás...

Por cierto, éste no será el único dibujo que realice con esta temática... :)

A hypothetical unnamed assassin, located at the infamous Passage of the Inquisition (Callejón de la Inquisición), in the neighborhood known as Triana, at the city of Seville. Specifically, the historical ambient is from the 17th century, the age when Seville was the "world´s harbour" or, in spanish, "Puerto de Indias"...

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