Alonso Martínez de Espinar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alonso Martínez de Espinar
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Anonymous portrait in the Museo del Greco, Toledo
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| Born | 5 May 1588 |
| Died | 14 May 1682 (aged 94) Madrid
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| Nationality | Kingdom of Spain |
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Notable work
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Arte de ballestería y montería |
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Alonso Martínez de Espinar (born May 5, 1588 – died May 14, 1682) was an important Spanish writer and a skilled hunter. He worked for several kings of Spain as a royal crossbowman and a shooter with an arquebus (an early type of gun). He was one of the top three writers about hunting during the Spanish Baroque period.
Contents
Life of Alonso Martínez de Espinar
Alonso Martínez de Espinar was born in Madrid, Spain. His father was Cristóbal Martínez de Espinar, and his mother was Juana Hernández Sacristán. He had a sister named Jerónima. She married Alonso Mateos, who was also a royal crossbowman. Alonso's brother, Juan Mateos, also wrote a famous book about hunting.
Alonso in Famous Paintings
Alonso Martínez de Espinar can be seen in a famous painting by Diego Velázquez. The painting is called Prince Baltasar Carlos in the Riding School. Velázquez painted it in 1636. In the painting, Alonso is shown handing a lance (a long spear) to Gaspar de Guzmán. Gaspar was the riding teacher for Prince Baltasar Carlos. The prince is on horseback in the front of the painting. Alonso's brother, Juan Mateos, is also in the painting. King Philip IV and Queen Isabel are watching from a balcony.
There are also three portraits that might be of Alonso Martínez de Espinar. One is an engraving in his book. Another is a painting in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The third is in the Museo del Greco in Toledo.
His Book: The Art of Hunting
Alonso Martínez de Espinar wrote a very important book about hunting. It is called Arte de ballestería y montería, which means "The Art of Crossbowmanship and Hunting." This book was published in Madrid in 1644. It is one of the three main books about hunting from the Spanish Baroque period.
The famous writer Francisco de Quevedo Villegas wrote the introduction for Alonso's book. The book was dedicated to Prince Baltasar Carlos. It includes pictures of the prince and Alonso himself. These pictures were made by an artist named Juan de Noort. Other pictures in the book show different hunting scenes.
The book has three main parts. It teaches about hunting with both a crossbow and an arquebus. It also explains how to hunt using lures and traps.
The book was so popular that it was printed again in 1739 in Naples. Naples was under Spanish rule at that time. Another edition was printed in Madrid in 1761.
Gallery
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Engraving by Juan van Noort from the Arte de ballesteria y monteria, 1644
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Anonymous portrait, school of Velásquez, Museo del Prado, Madrid
See also
In Spanish: Alonso Martínez de Espinar para niños
