Don Andrés de Andrade y la Cal Blog 6

This piece is titled Don Andrés de Andrade y la Cal and was painted by Bartolomé Estebán Murillo in approximately 1665–72.  It is an oil painting on canvas and is 79 x 47 in. (200.7 x 119.4 cm).  The man shown in the painting is Don Andrés de Andrade y la Cal and was pertiguero, or marshal of processions in the cathedral of Seville in Spain.  The pose shown here displays that he is Spanish royalty as seen in other paintings of this time period, in which royalty is occasionally shown with their right hand on a dog, in this case a Mastiff.  In the upper left hand corner of the painting is Don Andrés de Andrade y la Cal`s family crest.

 Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was born in Seville, Spain in Dec 1617, the youngest of fourteen children and his family was comfortable financially, and had a good position in town socially.  He lost both his parents who passed away within only a few months of each other in 1627 and 1628, when Murillo was only ten.  He was then sent to live with his older sister, where he learned about art and later on began his career  as a professional artist by painting decorations for festivals.  One of Murillo`s lifelong dreams was to   establish an academy of art in Spain, which he fought for over the years and eventually was rewarded with one in his home town in 1660. Murillo himself was elected the Academy's first president.  As the 1660s progressed, Murillo became even more well known for his paintings, and it was during this time that he painted Don Andrés de Andrade y la Cal. Murillo died a famous painter in Apr 1682 and was buried at  the same burial place as Christopher Columbus.



 http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/437173?=&imgNo=0&tabName=gallery-label