Biblioteca Habsbúrgica. Semblanzas impresas de una dinastía

The UCM Marqués de Valdecilla Historical Library is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the visual and symbolic representation of the House of Habsburg through printed books, running from 11 May to 16 November.

The exhibition brings together more than one hundred copies from the collections of the Marqués de Valdecilla Historical Library, exploring the construction of the public image of the dynasty that ruled in Spain between 1518 and 1700. Through portraits, chronicles, biographies and ceremonial publications, the display examines how the printing press contributed to spreading an international visual and political identity.

Following the model initiated by Emperor Maximilian I, the Habsburgs promoted an extensive graphic and publishing output involving artists and cultural figures from various eras. These publications existed alongside the pictorial tradition developed by figures such as Titian, Rubens, Velázquez and Van Dyck, broadening the reach of dynastic representation thanks to this circulation of printed works.

The various themes in the exhibition allow visitors to explore topics such as the political and religious exaltation of the monarchy, dynastic memory, courtly rituals and the representation of spaces linked to power, such as the Madrid court and San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It also highlights the international dimension of the dynasty and its connections with other European and overseas territories.