Armouries of the Spanish Nobility : Studies on a Powerful Signal of Social Distinction and Inequality

The armouries were among the most significant visual and symbolic manifestations of the nobility’s elevated social position, alongside palaces, chapels, cabinet rooms, and libraries. The study of Aristocratic Culture necessitates a focus on arms, reflecting the nobility’s traditional military function. Beyond the topic of arms and letters, understanding this distinct culture requires examining armouries as a critical interpretative key to social order and status. These served as demonstrations of a lineage’s antiquity, prestige, importance, and worth, playing a vital role in the visual performance of this dominant social stratum. This collection of essays provides the first panoramic view of this subject, developed within the Spanish and broader European contexts, addressing the content, uses, formation, chronology, meaning, and significance of such sets of objects.

Roberto González Ramos is a researcher in Visual and Symbolic Culture of Nobility, with a broad perspective focusing on the education and practice of Arts within the Aristocratic milieu of the Early Modern Age. His work also extends to Collectionism and the display of objects as symbolic representations of Nobility.Roberto González Ramos, is a researcher on Visual and Symbolic Culture of Nobility in a broad perspective, especially on education and practice of Arts in the Aristocratic milieu of the Early Modern Age, and on Collectionism and display of objects as symbolic representation of Nobility.

Jesús M. Ruiz Carrasco has focused his research interests on Architecture and its relationship with Nobility. He has published several texts on Architecture as an aristocratic symbol of status, as well as on Collections in 18th Century Spain.Jesús M. Ruiz Carrasco has centered his researching interests in Architecture and its relationship with Nobility, and published several texts on Architecture as aristocratic symbol of status, as well as on Collections in 18th Century Spain.

Carlos Ramírez Raya participates in a research group centered on Collectionism and Armouries of the Spanish nobility. He has served as the secretary of an International Congress on the subject.Carlos Ramírez Raya, participates in the Researching group centered in Collectionism and Armouries of the Spanish nobility, and have actuated as a secretary of an International Congress on the subject.