Hristos la stâlp

1614–1637

Collaborations in Seville and friendship with Velázquez

During his years in Seville he collaborates with Felipe and Gaspar de Ribas, Luis Ortiz de Vargas, Juan del Castillo, Pablo Legot, Martín de Andújar Cantos, Francisco Varela and other artists. He is a friend of Diego Velázquez.

1637

Called to Madrid by the Count-Duke of Olivares

He begins preparing for a journey to Madrid, where he is called to work for the Count-Duke of Olivares, a close associate of King Philip IV. The summons may have come at Velázquez’s suggestion.

winter 1638

Settles in Madrid

He settles in Madrid; closeness to the court lets him see the royal collections, rich in 16th-century Venetian painting and in Velázquez’s recent works. This helps explain the evolution of his style from the tenebrism borrowed from Caravaggio to a more colourful manner and elegant figures recalling the paintings of Van Dyck.

1640

Restores paintings after the Buen Retiro fire

In Madrid he is in charge of restoring paintings after the fire at the royal palace of Buen Retiro.

1642

Decides to stay at court

He sends his father a power of attorney to hand over all his affairs, making clear that he wants to remain at court. At court he became first royal architect, painter to Philip IV and tutor in drawing and painting to Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias.

1644

His wife is found murdered; suspicion falls on Cano

Cano’s wife is found murdered with fifteen stab wounds; an Italian painter who lived in his house (by another account, a servant) is accused but vanishes, and because of discord between the spouses suspicion falls on Alonso himself. The judges, mindful of his unbalanced temper, blame Cano: he is arrested and tortured but is not found guilty and, not without the king’s intervention, is released.