Mudéjar and the Alhambresque: Spanish Pavilions at the Universal Expositions and the Invention of a National Style

Abstract

Spain’s complex relationship with its Islamic architectural heritage was brought into particular focus through the prism of its national pavilions that were built for the Universal Expositions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This article explores how Spain chose to represent itself in several key expositions of the 1860s and 1870s, using a combination of styles derived from its Islamic architectural heritage, from the mudéjar to the Alhambresque. Particular attention is paid to the critical reception of the national pavilions within Spain; to the influence of global architectural trends on Spanish architects and critics; to the variety among the different versions of Spain’s Islamic architecture that were promoted in the name of nationalism; and to the role of ephemeral architecture in the attempts to define a national architectural style.