School Textbooks of Krausist Origin for the Teaching of Aesthetics and Art and Music History in High Schools

Abstract

Spanish krausism –probably the leading philosophy and cultural movement in Spain since middle nineteenth century to the Spanish civil war– had a remarkable role in the inclusion of disciplines such as Art History, Music History and Aesthetics in the Spanish University, Music Schools, Conservatories of Arts and, especially, in High Schools since 1870’s. In order to establish these studies and generalize them in the Spanish educational system some of the most important krausists wrote manuals and books for these subjects and, through them, they spread out the basic principles of the krausist aesthetical thinking. Hermenegildo Giner de los Ríos published, in 1873, the first of these books, which had its origins in Cardenal Cisneros High School (Madrid); later, the same author, wrote several manuals, inspired in this one, to teach Art History and Aesthetics, all them had a remarkable influence in secondary education in Spain and where used in many High Schools.