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Don Juan Xavier Joachín Gutiérrez Altamirano Velasco, Count of Santiago de Calimaya

Miguel Cabrera

European Art

Accompanied by a prominent coat of arms that is larger than his face, the powerful Creole (American-born Spaniard) Don Juan Xavier Joachín here poses in a dazzling European-style costume and powdered wig appropriate to his social status. A lengthy inscription emphasizes his court appointments, including a lifetime position as governor of the Philippines. Spain began granting titles of nobility to elite individuals in the New World shortly after the European conquest.
MEDIUM Oil on canvas
  • Place Made: Mexico
  • DATES ca. 1752
    DIMENSIONS 81 5/16 × 53 1/2 in. (206.5 × 135.9 cm) frame: 98 1/2 × 66 1/2 × 13 in. (250.2 × 168.9 × 33 cm)  (show scale)
    SIGNATURE Signed lower left (under shield): " Michl Cabrera pinxit"
    INSCRIPTIONS Inscribed lower left on cartouche: "El Sr. Dn. Juan Xa-/vier Joachin Gu-/tierrez Altamirano Velas/co, y Castilla Albornos,Lo-/pez Legaspy Ortiz de Oraa/Gorraez Beaumont, y Nava-/rra,Luna de Arellano,Cõde/de Santiago Calimaya, Mar-/ques de Salinas del Rio Pi-/zuerga,Sr. de las Casas d Cas/tilla, y Soza, y delas Villas de/Verninches,y Azequilla,de Ro-/mancos,y de Azuquequa d Na-/res, Cavallero del Sacro Romano/Imperio, por mro. del Sr. Emperador Car-/los quinto Adelãtado perpetuo dlas Islas/Philipinas, Contador d S.Mag.d y del Rl./y App.co Tribl. dela Sta. Cruzada; muriõ/el dia 17 de Junio de 1752, de Edad./de 41as.y 2 meses"
    COLLECTIONS European Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 52.166.1
    CREDIT LINE Museum Collection Fund and Dick S. Ramsay Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Don Juan Xavier Joachim Cutierrez Altamirano Velasco (1711-1752). An oil painting of Don Juan by Miguel Cabrera. The full length figure stands by a table in front of a draped red curtain against a dull gray background. His coat is richly embroidered in blue and yellow flowers, and the sleeves have a red and blue floral pattern which matches the under coat. The outer coat matches the trousers. The lining is the same bright red as the stockings. White pleated material is at his neck and sleeves. A cockaded hat is under his left arm, and a pair of gloves is in his left hand. He holds a sundial in a red box in sword shows beneath the left side of his coat. Condition: Good, though there are cracks along the lower left and right sides, and in the picture around his legs.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Miguel Cabrera (Mexican, 1695–1768). Don Juan Xavier Joachín Gutiérrez Altamirano Velasco, Count of Santiago de Calimaya, ca. 1752. Oil on canvas, 81 5/16 × 53 1/2 in. (206.5 × 135.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Collection Fund and Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 52.166.1 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 52.166.1_SL3.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 52.166.1_SL3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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