Santillana, Marquis of

Santillana, Marquis of 

(Iñigo López de Mendoza). Born Aug. 19, 1398, in Carrión de los Condes; died Mar. 25, 1458, in Guadalajara. Spanish poet. Santillana is the author of Introduction and Letter to the High Constable of Portugal (1449; published 1482), the first treatise on Spanish poetics. He is also the author of the didactic works Proverbs of Illustrious Wisdom and Useful Instruction (1437; published 1490), Dialogue Between Bias and Fortuna (1448; published 1502), and Lecture to the Favorites (1452). Santillana introduced the sonnet form into Spanish poetry. His sonnets and his allegorical poems The Lovers’ Hell and A Little Comedy About Ponza (1444) reflect the influence of Italian poetry. San-tillana’s most valuable legacy is his verse written in the spirit of Spanish folk poetry—songs, sayings, seranillas (pastoral songs)—and the collection Sayings of Old Women Sitting by the Fire (published 1508).

WORKS

Obras, 2nd ed. [Madrid, 1956.]
Canciones, decires, seranillas. Barcelona-Buenos Aires [1940].
In Russian translation:
”Sonet; Poslovitsy.” In Khrestomatiiapo zarubezhnoi literature: Epokha Vozrozhdeniia, vol. 1. Compiled by B. I. Purishev. Moscow, 1959.

REFERENCES

Smirnov, A. A. Srednevekovaia literatura Ispanii. Leningrad, 1969.
Lapesa, R. La obra literaria del marqués de Santillana. Madrid, 1957.
Castillo de Lucas, A. Ensayo antropológico del marqués de Santillana y de su refranero. [Madrid] 1962.

A. L. SHTEIN