THE <em>ACADEMIA DEL BUEN GUSTO DE ZARAGOZA</em> AND ITS STATUTES

Abstract

Faced with a severe lack of available information concerning the existence of a self-styled academy known as the Academia del Buen Gusto in Zaragoza in the mid-18^th century, this study provides new documentation regarding its existence. The Academy used to gather between 1757 and 1761 at the home of the count of Fuentes. When it applied for formal royal approval in 1759, the Council consulted the Universities of Alcalá, Salamanca and Valladolid. The response of the first was lukewarm, that of the other two downright hostile. Of note is the negative verdict written by the chair of the University of Salamanca, Brother Manuel Bernardo de Ribera. As a result of this, the Council only allowed the Academy to continue to operate in a private capacity; the failure of the request and the consequent impossibility of becoming a royal Academy put an end to its meetings. In this work transcripts are given of the statutes which the Academia del Buen Gusto in Zaragoza wished to adopt.