Melchor de Macanaz (copy)
Ca. 1877. Oil on canvas.Not on display
Melchor-Rafael de Macanaz y Montesinos was born on 31 January 1670 in Hellín. He was a famous writer, representative of the Spanish Enlightenment and advocate for reformism ideologist, attracting constant harassment from the authorities. He held important positions at the court of Philip V, including Attorney General of the Monarchy. He later worked with Ferdinand VI, under whom he rose to the position of Minister Plenipotentiary of Spain. He died in his birth city at the age of 91 in 1760. The plan he holds in his hand relates to the urban reform of Xátiva, a town in Valencia formerly called ‘San Felipe’, that took part between 1707 and 1811.
Díez, José Luis (dir.), Pintura del Siglo XIX en el Museo del Prado. Catálogo general, Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2015, p.352
