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He was the son of Agustín del Castillo, a painter born in Llerena, Extremadura, whose work is practically unknown but whom Palomino called an “excellent painter.” Orphaned in 1626, Antonio studied with an unknown painter named Ignacio Aedo Calderón. He may later have travelled to Seville, although we have no proof, where Palomino suggests he was a pupil of Zurbarán. This idea is corroborated by th
Shortly after completing initial training in his native city at Antonio del Castillo Saavedra's workshop, he moved to Madrid, where he entered Diego Velázquez's studio. His work, especially his portraits, was powerfully influenced by Velázquez, and their relation allowed him contact with Venetian and Flemish artists whose work was in the Royal Collections around 1665. While still quite young, he p