L’art au service de la divulgation scientifique : le rôle des gravures dans le Semanario de Agricultura y Artes dirigido a los Párrocos (1797-1808)

• Main Author: Elisabel Larriba
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Temps, Espaces, Langages, Europe Méridionale-Méditerranée (TELEMME) 2005-01-01
• Series: El Argonauta Español
• Subjects: Semanario de Agricultura y Artes dirigido a los Párrocos; illustrated press; engraving; iconography; agriculture; Godoy (Manuel)
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/argonauta/1185

Financed by Godoy to circulate new agricultural and handicraft techniques, the Semanario de Agricultura y Artes dirigido a los Párrocos (1797-1808) was an unusual periodical in many respects, aiming at both the enlightened elite and an illiterate readership (through the parish clergy). In order to attract their attention, the writers of the Semanario chose to buttress the written word with the appeal and prestige of illustrations. After giving a brief presentation of Semanario and an overview of 18th century engraving, this paper will examine the role played by the illustrations in a weekly that meant to be an advanced scientific work as much as a popular encyclopaedia.