On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01195
- Author
- Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y (Spanish)
- Title
- Diego del Corral y Arellano, Judge of the supreme Council of Castile
- Chronology
- Ca. 1631
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 215 cm x 110 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- LEGADO
- Procedence
- Legacy of the Duchess of Villahermosa, 1905
Diego del Corral y arellano
(1570-1632) was a judge at the
Council of Castile and professor at
the University of Salamanca. He is
shown with a black toga, and this,
along with his papers, alludes to
his position as a judge. The Cross
of Saint James embroidered on his
chest symbolizes his noble origin,
while his hat denotes the right to
cover his head, indicating his high
social standing.
The details of this composition are
far from anecdotal. Every one was
carefully chosen by Velasquez to
socially characterize his
model.
The technique employed by the
painter, which combines a close-up
of the model with a neutral
background and floor and a slight
hallow around his head, is
characteristic of Velasquez's style
from the beginning of the sixteen
thirties.
This work was paired with the
portrait of his wife, Antonia de
Ipeñarrieta y Galdós and her son,
Luís (P1196), and both were owned
by the family until the Duchess of
Villahermosa bequeathed them to the
Prado Museum.
Location on the map
