Juan Bautista Vázquez the Elder
Encyclopedia
Juan Bautista Vázquez el Viejo (1510 – 12 June 1588) was a Spanish
sculptor.
Born in Pelayos
(province of Salamanca), as a small child he moved with his family to Ávila, where the lived adjacent to the main market square. He first learned his art there in the studio of Vasco de la Zarza. It is believed that he then went to Italy
, where his style became more elegant. In 1554 he moved to Toledo
, where he executed various works for the Cathedral
, the church of Santa María la Blanca
, and the church of Almonacid de Zorita
(province of Guadalajara), among others.
In 1558, Francisca Blázquez, widow of sculptor Isidro de Villoldo, brought him back to Ávila to complete the figures of the main altarpiece
of the Charterhouse of Seville
, which Villodo had left unfinished at his death. In 1561 he moved to Seville
to complete the altarpiece. He settled there, putting together an important studio with collaborators including his brother-in-law and carver Juan de Oviedo the Elder, Miguel de Adán, Gaspar del Águila, and Jerónimo Hernández.
This studio would play a major role in establishing and consolidating the Sevillian school of sculpture
. They made major contributions to the second phase of the main altarpiece of the Cathedral of Seville, as well as the Church of Saint Mary in Carmona
(1563), the Church of Saint Matthew in Lucena (1572), the Church of Saint Mary in Medina Sidonia (1575); he also sculpted the Virgin of the Fevers in Seville's Church of Saint Mary Magdalene.
He married three times: to Andrea Hernández, sister of Juan de Oviedo the Elder; to María de Bonilla, daughter of the Sevillian painter Juan de Zamora; and to Isabel de Valdés. He died in Llerena
(province of Badajoz). His work was continued by his son Juan Bautista Vázquez the Younger
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
sculptor.
Born in Pelayos
Pelayos
Pelayos is a municipality located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 106 inhabitants....
(province of Salamanca), as a small child he moved with his family to Ávila, where the lived adjacent to the main market square. He first learned his art there in the studio of Vasco de la Zarza. It is believed that he then went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where his style became more elegant. In 1554 he moved to Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, where he executed various works for the Cathedral
Cathedral of Toledo
The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Toledo, Spain, seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toledo....
, the church of Santa María la Blanca
Santa María la Blanca
300px|thumb|Interior of Santa María la Blanca.Santa María la Blanca is a museum and former synagogue in Toledo, Spain. Erected in 1180, it is disputably considered the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing...
, and the church of Almonacid de Zorita
Almonacid de Zorita
Almonacid de Zorita is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 826 inhabitants....
(province of Guadalajara), among others.
In 1558, Francisca Blázquez, widow of sculptor Isidro de Villoldo, brought him back to Ávila to complete the figures of the main altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
of the Charterhouse of Seville
Monastery of Santa Maria de las Cuevas
The Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas, also known as the Monastery of the Cartuja , is a religious building on the island of La Cartuja in Seville, southern Spain.-History:...
, which Villodo had left unfinished at his death. In 1561 he moved to Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
to complete the altarpiece. He settled there, putting together an important studio with collaborators including his brother-in-law and carver Juan de Oviedo the Elder, Miguel de Adán, Gaspar del Águila, and Jerónimo Hernández.
This studio would play a major role in establishing and consolidating the Sevillian school of sculpture
Sevillian school of sculpture
The Sevillian school of sculpture—the tradition of Christian religious sculpture in Seville, Andalusia, Spain—began in the 13th century, formed a clear tradition of its own in the 16th century, and continues into the present....
. They made major contributions to the second phase of the main altarpiece of the Cathedral of Seville, as well as the Church of Saint Mary in Carmona
Carmona
Carmona may be:Places* Carmona, a town in Seville, Spain.* Carmona, Cavite, a municipality in the Philippines* Carmona, Goa* Carmona, Costa Rica, a city in Guanacaste province.* The former name of the Angolan town of Uíge.People...
(1563), the Church of Saint Matthew in Lucena (1572), the Church of Saint Mary in Medina Sidonia (1575); he also sculpted the Virgin of the Fevers in Seville's Church of Saint Mary Magdalene.
He married three times: to Andrea Hernández, sister of Juan de Oviedo the Elder; to María de Bonilla, daughter of the Sevillian painter Juan de Zamora; and to Isabel de Valdés. He died in Llerena
Llerena
Llerena may refer to:*Llerena, Badajoz in Badajoz province, Spain, postal code 06900*A Hispanic surname, including the poet José A. Llerena...
(province of Badajoz). His work was continued by his son Juan Bautista Vázquez the Younger
Juan Bautista Vázquez the Younger
Juan Bautista Vázquez the Younger was a Spanish sculptor, active in the late 16th century and early 17th century, son of Juan Bautista Vázquez the Elder, and a member of the Sevillian school of sculpture.-Life and work:...
.