Nebrija and the Humanist vision
What does Humanism make you think of? Find out how Nebrija helped to shape a new intellectual panorama in Spain.
Elio Antonio de Nebrija
Antonio Martínez de Cala y Xarana (1441–1522) was the first Spanish Humanist. He was best known for his Castilian Grammar (1492). His early visit to Italy formed the basis of what would become his Humanist way of thinking, which he would bring back to Spain.
Bolonia (01-02-2020)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
From Seville to Italy
In 1465, Nebrija traveled to Bologna (Italy). It was during this time that he began to see himself as a Humanist. He read and analyzed in detail texts by Latin writers and books on Greek grammar, as well as familiarizing himself with the linguistic method of textual analysis in which the Italian Humanists believed.
Salamanca University (12-03-2022)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
Nebrija attempted to introduce the ideas of Humanism in Spain. Years after his return from Italy, he looked back on this time as a journey of knowledge and study. His aim was to bring back to Spain the writers that people should read.
Nebrija and Humanism
The search for truth, curiosity, defense of free will, independence, and tolerance. At its heart, Humanism is simply linguistics. Nebrija was something of a prophesier—a forefather of linguistics in Spain.
Incunabula of antonio de nebrija (1517) by Antonio de NebrijaOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
Humanists wanted to review the texts on which lessons were based, and to remove errors from them. Nebrija returned to Spain with this profoundly Humanistic vision: a way of seeing the world, of tackling his studies, and of viewing reality.
Latin Grammar with notes (1541) by Antonio de NebrijaOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
In 1481, he published a Latin textbook, his Introductiones Latinae. This was a key text and a complete break with the past: it was clear, concise, and definitive in its correction of errors and its dismissal of certain constructions. The work was so useful that it was sometimes known as The Antonio.
Latin Grammar with notes (1541) by Antonio de NebrijaOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
The idea was basic: to defend the fact that the truth lies in words and that, therefore, a distorted text is a dishonest, false text which could lead to doctrinal confusion and, therefore, to citizens with less freedom.
Salamanca University (12-03-2022)Fundación Antonio de Nebrija
He introduced this view into his university teaching. Nebrija taught in lecture halls, at the same time preparing and publishing books for his students. He worked closely with the publishers of the time, seeking the widest possible dissemination of his works.
Latin Grammar digitization (ca. 1487) by Antonio de NebrijaOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
Nebrija: a great innovator and bringer of change
Despite living in a time of seismic change, very few people were aware of the significance of their era. Nebrija was an exception.
The Virgin surrounded by Saints (1772) by Ferrien, L. J. (s. XVIII)Original Source: National Library of Spain
He approached the task of studying and making changes to the Bible with great integrity and courage. As he said, "The divine truth is spiritual, it is unblemished, but there may be blemishes made by the copyists."
El Cielo de Salamanca (1483) by Fernando GallegoFundación Antonio de Nebrija
The range of disciplines he studied made him an innovator. He was a grammarian, the best Latin scholar of his time, and the author of the first complete grammar book of the Castilian language. In addition, he also wrote about geography, education, law, and astrology.
Spanish Grammar (1492) by Antonio de NebrijaOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
As the first person to write a complete grammar of the Spanish language, he took on the challenge of developing a language of his own: a terminology to describe the Spanish language.
Printing workshop (1590-1612?) by Théodor GalleOriginal Source: Spanish National Library
He was also knowledgeable about a new invention, which was essential to his work: the printing press. This was vital for disseminating his work, and for working on his own terms: works that had been properly corrected, properly made, and carefully overseen at the printer’s workshop.
Sculpture of Antonio de Nebrija by Nigues AnselmFundación Antonio de Nebrija
A new intellectual panorama, brought about by Nebrija, was taking shape in Europe, in Humanism and in Spain's universities.
Information taken from the contributions by Lola Pons in the MOOC Antonio de Nebrija: Apología del saber (Antonio de Nebrija: Apologia on Knowledge)
With information from Antonio de Nebrija. La lengua y la verdad (2021).
(Antonio de Nebrija: Language and Truth) © Photographic Archive of the Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado)
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