Gaspar Becerra facts for kids
Gaspar Becerra (born 1520 – died 1568) was a famous Spanish artist. He was both a talented painter and a sculptor. He belonged to a group of artists known as the School of Valladolid.
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Life and Early Career
Gaspar Becerra was born in a town called Baeza in Spain. When he was about 25 years old, in 1545, he traveled to Rome, Italy. There, he studied art with a well-known artist named Giorgio Vasari. Becerra even helped Vasari paint a large hall in a palace called the Palazzo della Cancelleria.
He also worked with another artist, Daniele da Volterra, on the Trinità dei Monti church. In 1555, Becerra painted a picture of the 'Nativity' there. He also helped create drawings for a book about the human body. This book was called Historia de la composicion del cuerpo humano by Juan Valverde de Amusco.
Working for Prince Philip
In 1551, Prince Philip of Spain gave money to Becerra. He wanted Becerra to create a special gold container, called a tabernacle. This tabernacle was for the Spanish church in Rome, San Giacomo degli Spagnoli. This beautiful gold piece might have been melted down later to make a new one.
Return to Spain and Major Works
In 1556, Gaspar Becerra married Doňa Paula Velasquez. After that, he moved back to Spain and lived in Zaragoza for a while. He was hired by King Philip II for many important projects.
Palace Decorations
Becerra decorated many rooms in the royal palace in Madrid. He painted large pictures directly onto the walls and ceilings, known as frescoes. One of his ceiling paintings in the Royal Palace of El Pardo shows the "Exploits of Perseus." This painting tells stories of the Greek hero Perseus. He also painted altarpieces for several churches. Sadly, most of these paintings have been lost over time.
Masterpieces in Sculpture
Becerra's skill as a sculptor was almost as famous as his painting. One of his best sculptures was a grand figure of the Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, this statue was destroyed during a war with France.
He also created a statue of Our Lady of Solitude for Elisabeth of Valois, the Queen of Spain. This statue was placed in a chapel of the Order of the Minims'.
His most famous sculpture is the high altar of Astorga Cathedral. He finished this amazing work in 1558. It is considered a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance sculpture.
Court Painter and Teacher
Around 1563, Becerra became a court painter in Madrid. This meant he worked directly for the king. He played a very important role in developing fine arts in Spain.
Many artists learned from him. Some of his students included Miguel Barroso, Francisco López, and Jerónimo Vázquez.
Becerra in Poetry
The famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about Gaspar Becerra. The poem is simply titled "Gaspar Becerra." It was included in Longfellow's 1850 book, The Seaside and the Fireside.
See also
In Spanish: Gaspar Becerra para niños
