Fernando de Herrera (1534-1597) was a renowned Spanish writer and poet who belonged to the period of greatest flourishing of Spanish literature and the arts. His work was part of the 16th century, the so-called Spanish Golden Age, and derived from the influence of Francesco Petrarca, as well as from the studies of the writings of Garcilaso de la Vega..
Herrera's writings go through prose and poetry, that makes diversity part of his works. The life of this writer was immersed in the total vocation to intellectual work, which made him stay away from the social and political life of his time; that is, not to take part in the events.
With the nickname of "The Divine" they knew him at first in his native land, later posterity appropriated him and recognized him in the same way. Herrera loved freedom, he was strict in following the rules and customs, and he was not a friend of doing favors. He always chose solitude and absolute silence.
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The Spanish writer, poet and historian Fernando de Herrera was born in Seville in 1534. Like many other characters, little is known about his life. However, it is said that he was born into a low-income family. They claim that his father worked as a candlestick seller.
The humble origin of the writer did not prevent him from training academically. The first beginnings towards a life of learning were given under the tutelage of Pedro Fernández de Castilleja, a teacher in music, Latin and Greek grammar. They say that he did not obtain a degree from this training.
In the years to come he befriended the Spanish playwright, humanist, and poet Juan de Mal Lara. This relationship allowed him to train in some schools in Seville.
The education received by the poet was one of the best. He obtained extensive knowledge in the field of humanities, also learned different languages corresponding to the time.
In his younger years he entered religious studies; however, this did not mean that he was ordained as a priest. On the part of the church of San Andrés he received the minor orders, which referred to being a servant of the headquarters. Because of this, he obtained monetary benefits that helped him to train in his studies..
Although Fernando de Herrera had few friends, he made the exception and established links with the second Count of Gelves, Álvaro de Portugal, and, of course, with his wife Leonor Fernández de Córdoba and Milan de Aragón. Leonor was the inspiration in many of his poems.
In relation to Leonor de Córdoba, Fernando was in love with her. There is no evidence of a romance, but what is certain is that after the countess died, the poet wrote no more about love. She esteemed him, and besides being his protector with her husband, she left him part of her will.
On the other hand, the characteristics of Fernando's personality aroused the rejection and reaction of many colleagues. Such is the case of the Spanish soldier and writer Juan Rufo, who described him as surly and conceited.
Mostly in solitude, Fernando de Herrera began to write some essays and poems with Renaissance heroic characteristics, many of them were lost. Later he dedicated himself to writing some observations on the poetic works of Garcilaso de La Vega (1580).
The “herreriana” work, as Fernando's works are known, was described in two parts (due to its interest and importance): The Poetic Songbook Y The Annotations to the works of Garcilaso.
The first stood out in poetry, while the second developed more humanistic aspects. Both manuscripts marked a before and after in Spanish literature.
In the year 1572, while in Seville, he published Relationship of the Cyprus War Y Event of the Naval Battle of Lepanto. The author was very picky, so much so that he corrected errors in printed books by hand, because he did not like the typography.
Before his death he published his last work: a compendium of the life of the Spanish thinker and theologian Tomás Moro in 1591. Fernando de Herrera died in his hometown in 1597. His life was recognized for the transcendence of his literary works.
Fernando de Herrera's work was characterized by being perfect. The same author was in charge of meticulously correcting the poetic lines and spelling. His cult qualities and his intellect were reflected in his writings. This made him the predecessor of the current known as "culteranismo".
It can be said that the works of this writer were full of numerous metaphors. This made his work a bit difficult for most readers to understand. In addition to this, Fernando had a great capacity for speech, this quality was closely linked to the way of being of the poet.
Fernando sought through his works to recover the words that had disappeared as a result of the daily use of archaisms, as well as the words that should have already been innovated due to the loss of meaning. Herrera brought Spanish closer to Latin.
The fact that he innovated with new words was not synonymous with the fact that he took the old phrases out of his poetry, but that he also used them as a way to give literary notoriety to the verses. The words he used the most were: ardor, frizzy, stiff, read and proud.
Something that stands out when his work is studied is the gradual transformation that occurs when he goes from mythological aspects to those related to Christianity. On the other hand, Herrera had the tendency to write poems of a heroic nature, as well as praise to particular people or situations..
Fernando de Herrera's writing was flawless and elegant. He was always concerned with bringing quality and content to the reader within the meticulous care of the works. De Herrera contributed new elements and polished those that already existed to enrich each manuscript that came into his hands or that was born from them..
Many of Fernando de Herrera's works have not been found or have disappeared. These include: The Theft of Proserpina, Amadís, Tragic Poem, Poetic Art; among other. Many of them he wrote during his youth.
It can be said that his poetic work sought, through the use of beauty as an element, that the reader was moved by passion and desire. Fernando knew that poetry was emotion and feeling, but it should also have and produce pleasure through aesthetics and perfect elaboration..
This work was based on love, inspired at that time by the aforementioned Countess Leonor of Milan. The author made it clear that he wanted to reach the love of the lady through writing, by the representative mention of her in the poems by means of the "light", a "star" or a "star".
The songbook suggested three stages of Fernando's love for the married woman. The first was an altered song that expresses his passionate need for the woman he loved. Second, the idea that the poet had of being reciprocated in his feelings. And finally, the disappointment and disappointment of the lover.
Fragment:
"Gift and my love, whom I love the most,
if we both died together,
I had little pain, so absent
I would not be of you, as I already hope.
The author carried out this work in Seville in the year 1580, with the name Works by Garci Lasso de la Vega with annotations by Fernando de Herrera. It consisted mainly of mentioning the different linguistic elements that Garcilaso used in his work.
Similarly, Herrera undertook the task of explaining his ideas and theories about poetry, using some strategies of rigorous depth. This fearlessness caused him to be criticized and pointed out by those who supported the work of Garcilaso de la Vega, especially Prete Jacopín, an admirer of Garcilaso..
It is a work dedicated to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, known as El Bueno, who was the Duke of Medinasidonia. The manuscript was written in Seville in the year 1572.
It is a description of what was then the island of Cyprus and the objectives that the Turks had on it. The writer also made a relationship with the famous battle of Lepanto in 1571.
The above are perhaps the most outstanding works of this Spanish writer and poet, who always sought to be recognized for the wonderful dedication and neatness with which he wrote each of his works. However, mention can be made of other of his works such as:
Some Works of Fernando de Herrera, that he wrote when it was the year 1582; Lausino and Corona loves; as well as: I go through this lonely earth, that reflected in a way the state of mind of its author. The following is a verse from the latter:
"The passage to hope is closed to me,
from an arduous summit to a hill I go uphill,
with the eyes returning to the section
place, only beginning of my war ".
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