Juan Mateos (courtier) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Mateos
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Cover of Origen y dignidad de la caça with a portrait of Mateos by Pedro Perete, Madrid, 1634, National Library of Spain.
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| Born | 1575 |
| Died | 15 August 1643 (aged 68) |
| Nationality | Kingdom of Spain |
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Notable work
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Origen y dignidad de la caça |
| Spouse(s) | María Marquart |
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Juan Mateos (around 1575–15 August 1643) was a skilled hunter who rode horses. He was also the main crossbowman for Philip IV of Spain, who was the King of Spain.
In 1634, Juan Mateos wrote an important book called Origen y dignidad de la caça. This means "Origin and Dignity of Hunting." It was a book about hunting techniques and ideas. He dedicated his book to the Count-Duke of Olivares, a very powerful person at the time. In his book, Mateos said, "I write only what I have done, and what I have seen; and what I have seen others do." This shows he wrote from his own experience.
Contents
His Life and Work
Juan Mateos was the son of Gonzalo Mateos. His father was also a senior crossbowman for a nobleman called the Marquis of Villanueva del Fresno. This was from 1601 to 1606, when the Spanish Royal Court was in Valladolid.
Working for the Royal Family
Juan Mateos started working for Queen Margaret of Austria as a crossbowman and hunter. When she passed away in 1611, he began working for her husband, King Philip III. Later, he served their son, King Philip IV. This means he worked for three important members of the Spanish royal family.
His Famous Book
Mateos's book, Origen y dignidad de la caça, is very well-known. It teaches about hunting and shows how important it was in his time. The book's cover has a portrait of Mateos. This portrait was made by an artist named Pedro Perete. One of the pictures inside the book was signed by the painter Francisco Collantes.
How We Know What He Looked Like
Thanks to the portrait on his book, we know what Juan Mateos looked like. Some art experts believe he might be the person in a famous painting by Velázquez. This painting is called Don Juan Mateos. Another expert thinks Mateos might be one of the people shown with the Count-Duke of Olivares in another painting. This painting is called Prince Baltasar Carlos in the Riding School.
Juan Mateos died in Madrid on 15 August 1643. When he died, his belongings were listed. This list included two full-size oil paintings. One was of his wife, María, and the other was of him. The painting of him was probably the Don Juan Mateos painting.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Mateos para niños
