Masters Builders without works: Talent lost in late 19th century Spanish architecture (examples of proffesionals with a degree obtained in Valladolid) 1

Abstract

After the elimination of the official education of Master Builder, on June 30, 1869, the free schools arose where the last master builders of Spain were certified. Some of them did not directly practice architecture, thus avoiding the development of new architectural designs. We ask ourselves why and if the hypothetical lack of talent could be the main cause of the existence of “master builders without works”. In order to do this, we studied the certification examinations carried out by students of both, the Free School of Master Builders of Valladolid and the formal education at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Pusísima (Valladolid) in their final years. These classrooms provided many of the master builders who worked in part of the north of Spain until, approximately, the 1930s. In some authors we appreciate a talent that was wasted due to diverse circumstances.