Photographers Bleda and Rosa Seek the Sun that Illuminated Charles V in His Retreat

Beneath the sun that illuminates the Monastery of Yuste, where the bluish rays of early hours mingle with the orange hues of sunset, photographers María Bleda (Castellón de la Plana, 1969) and José María Rosa (Albacete, 1970) have sought to capture the essence of the place where Emperor Charles V retired to spend his final years. Through 18 images and an audiovisual presentation, the artists have mounted an exhibition at the Royal Collections of Madrid, aiming to foster reflection on the sun as a symbol of time, life, and history.

The photos will later be integrated into a portfolio inspired by three of Charles V's interests: astronomy, botany, and mechanical inventions. With this exhibition, photographers Bleda and Rosa, recipients of the 2008 National Photography Award, have officially inaugurated PhotoEspaña. The exhibition is titled 'The Hours of the Day' and is part of the current edition of the photographic festival's programme.

The exhibition, inaugurated today and open until September 7, explores the natural spaces of the site, not with the intent of capturing a moment, but to evoke an emotion, requiring more intense participation from the viewer. "The central theme is the sun, the starting point, all with the intention of recording the passage of time, although history is also very present. In our work, there is always a direct connection with historical events," says José María Rosa.

Throughout the spring, Bleda and Rosa have attempted to capture the light of Yuste with their cameras. "It is a short timeframe compared to what we are usually accustomed to. Normally, our projects span years," notes Rosa.

The initiative, sponsored by Acciona, is part of the project to portray the royal sites of National Heritage. The images, displayed in various formats, are viewed from three locations: the gardens of Campo del Moro, the ramp of the Royal Collections Gallery, and the Immersive Cube. Thus, the museographic proposal first invites a leisurely viewing of the photos, contrasting with the immersive audiovisual experience of about seven minutes shown in the Immersive Cube.

After its run in Madrid, the exhibition will travel to the Monastery of Yuste in mid-September, allowing the photographs to be viewed in the environment where they were conceived. The authors explained that the project, part of the 'Field Notebooks' initiative, "establishes an analogy between the solar cycle and the life cycle of nature and man, evoking a time when the sun was a guide, measure, and symbol. It marked the hours, the day, the night, the seasons, the passage of time."

The first edition of 'Field Notebooks' was developed by Javier Vallhonrat at La Granja de San Ildefonso, where attention was paid to water engineering. This new installment of the project focuses on the sun as a fundamental source of energy and life.

The Monastery of Yuste was the final residence of Emperor Charles V (1500-1558). After abdicating, the monarch sought a place of retreat, away from the courts of Valladolid and Toledo, where he could rest, attend to his delicate health, and prepare his soul before passing away. The chosen location was a small monastery in the region of La Vera, founded in the early 15th century. Its original architecture was extensively transformed to include the palace house and gardens that would be so significant in the twilight of his life.

To realize his dream, the emperor enlisted Milanese Juanelo Turriano, his court clockmaker, as well as an engineer, mathematician, inventor, and automaton builder. Juanelo was responsible for the hydraulic system that allowed better use of the gardens, as well as the creator of many of the clocks that marked the king's final hours.