La Vierge et l'Enfant Jésus

19 March 1601

Born

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.

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.

1652

Returns to Granada and becomes a canon

Back in his native city (he had been living in the province of Valencia), he receives holy orders with the help of Philip IV, becomes a canon and chief architect of the cathedral, decorates its main chapel and is appointed its chief painter; by another account, the orders gave him protection from further prosecution. He brings books, engravings and tools with him, apparently planning to stay for good.

3 September 1667

Died