Alonso Sanchez Coello

Background

Alonso Coello was born at Benifacio, near the city of Valencia in 1515.

Education

Alonso Coello studied many years in Italy; and returning to Spain in 1541 he settled at Madrid, and worked on religious themes for most of the palaces and larger churches.

Career

in 1541 Alonso Coello settled at Madrid, and worked on religious themes for most of the palaces and larger churches.

He was a follower of Titian, and, like him, excelled in portraits and single figures, elaborating the textures of his armours, draperies, and such accessories in a manner so masterly as strongly to influence Velazquez in his treatment of like objects.

Many of his pictures were destroyed in the fires that consumed the Madrid and Prado palaces, but many good examples are yet extant, among which may be noted the portraits of the infantes Carlos and Isabella, now in the Madrid gallery, and the St Sebastian painted in the church of San Geronimo, also in Madrid.

Achievements

• Court painter to the king was appointed by Sanchez Coello.

Connections

Coello left a daughter, Isabella Sanchez, who studied under him, and painted excellent portraits.

dauther:

Isabella Sanchez