Juan García de Miranda facts for kids
Juan García de Miranda (1677–1749) was a talented Spanish painter from the Baroque period. He learned his skills from Juan Delgado and was the uncle of another famous painter, Pedro Rodríguez de Miranda. Juan García de Miranda became so good at painting that he was even named the official Painter to the King!
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Who Was Juan García de Miranda?
Juan García de Miranda was born in Madrid, Spain, but his parents were from Asturias. He studied painting with Juan Delgado. Most of his early paintings were religious scenes, especially pictures of the "Immaculate Conception," which he created for people who wanted them for their homes.
Painting with a Challenge
Juan García de Miranda faced a unique challenge: he was born without a right hand. But this didn't stop him from becoming a great artist! He learned to use the part of his arm where his hand should have been to hold his pencils, brushes, and a special stick called a maulstick that helps artists keep their hand steady.
Working for the King
In 1734, a big fire happened at the Royal Alcazar, which was a royal palace. Many valuable paintings were damaged, including the famous "Las Meninas" by Diego Velázquez. Juan García de Miranda was chosen to clean and fix these damaged artworks. He did such an amazing job that in 1735, King Philip V officially named him his "painter-in-ordinary." This meant he was the King's main painter.
From 1724, Juan García de Miranda also worked with another artist named Antonio Palomino. Together, they were responsible for valuing (or deciding the worth of) other paintings.
Family and Legacy
Juan García de Miranda passed away in 1749. He had a son, also named Juan, who showed great promise as a painter but sadly died at only 21 years old. Juan's brother, Nicolas García de Miranda (born in 1698, died in 1738), was also his student. Nicolas painted landscapes that often included religious figures.
