(1559-1613) poet, playwright, historian
The brothers Argensola came from an aristocratic family and followed very similar literary paths. They were educated at Huesca and Zaragoza, with Bartolome also studying at Salamanca. Both joined the Academia Imitatoria (Academy of Imitators), a prestigious literary society that promoted the use of classical writers such as Horace as models. In fact, the brothers were known as the “Spanish Horaces,” both excelling at moral and satirical verse.
As leaders of the Aragonese School, they reacted against the complex baroque style of gOngora y argote, then in vogue. By contrast, their writing is restrained and intellectual. In their time, however, they epitomized good literary taste with emphasis on balance and formal perfection.
In 1599 Lupercio became chief historian of Aragon. But in 1608, at the invitation of the conde de Lemos, viceroy of Naples, both brothers moved to Naples. There Lupercio served as secretary of state, while both continued their literary activities: Lupercio founded his own literary society, Academia de los Ociosos (Academy of Idlers), and Bartolome became literary adviser and court poet.
Toward the end of his life, Lupercio assessed his own work rather harshly and had his poems burned. His version of Horace’s Beatus ille is, however, considered to be among the finest in Spanish. Luckily, his son Gabriel had made copies of most of his poems.
There were, however, some notable differences between the two. Lupercio, who disliked popular theater, wrote three tragedies in the style of the Roman dramatist Seneca: Filis, now lost, and Alejandra and Isabella, both gloomy and violent.
Bartolome, who also wrote under the name “Luis de Escatron,” was regarded as the more accomplished stylist for his sonnets and didactic verse. Unlike Lupercio, he was ordained into the priesthood, serving as rector of Villahermosa and later canon of the cathedral at Zaragoza. When Lupercio died in Naples, Bartolome returned to Spain, where he took Lupercio’s old job as chief historian of Aragon. In this role, both brothers produced important official historical records.
Contemporary writers such as felix lope de vega and Miguel de cervantes held the Argensola brothers in high esteem. Their poems were collected by Lupercio’s son and published posthumously in a single collection called Rimas. English versions of works by the Argensola brothers are not in print.
