Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron facts for kids
Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron (born around 1663 in Pesoz, died around 1732 in Madrid) was a Spanish sculptor. He worked during the Baroque period, which was a time when art was very dramatic and grand.
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Who Was Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron?
Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron was a talented artist who created sculptures. We know he was born in a place called Pesoz. He later moved to Madrid, which is where he did most of his work.
His Family Life
From his old papers, we know that Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron was married twice. He had three children. His daughter, Antonia, married another sculptor named José Galbán. His son, Tomás, became a Jesuit priest, which is a type of religious leader.
Starting His Career
Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron moved to Madrid in 1686. He lived near the Church of San Ginés. It is believed that a sculpture of Saint Jerome in that church was made by him. By 1687, he was working on his own as a sculptor. He even took on an apprentice, someone who learned from him, named Jerónimo de Soto.
Famous Works and Sculptures
Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron created many important sculptures. His only work that he signed is a "Head of Saint Paul," which he made in 1707. This helps us know his style.
Major Projects
In 1718, he made a sculpture of Saint John the Baptist for a church in Badajoz Cathedral. A few years later, in 1723, he created some stone sculptures for the Bridge of Toledo in Madrid. These were smaller, decorative pieces.
In 1726, he worked with an architect named Pedro de Ribera. Together, they made statues of Fernando III of Castile. These statues showed King Fernando III winning battles against the Moors.
Other Attributed Works
Some other sculptures are thought to be his work, even if they are not signed. These include a "Holy Family" sculpture, which is now in the Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid in Valladolid. Another is a sculpture of Saint Elijah in the National Gallery of Ireland.
There are also some figures in a chapel in Valladolid and another chapel in Salamanca that might have been made by him.
His Brother, a Sculptor?
It is possible that Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron had a brother named Pablo who was also a sculptor. This idea comes from a signature on a statue of Saint Augustine at the Royal Monastery of La Encarnación. However, we do not know much more about Pablo.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Alonso Villabrille y Ron para niños
