Antonio de Pereda y Salgado

A Spanish Baroque painter, Antonio de Pereda y Salgado (1611-1678) was noted for his paintings of religious subjects. Knowing of his aptitude for painting, his uncle took him to Madrid to be formed in different workshops. Under the tutelage of an Italian nobleman, Giovanni Battista Crescendi, he was able to develop his career and improve his technique and his appreciation of the Venetian school. Little by little, his fame grew in the Spanish court thanks to the protection of Crescendi, which earned him the task of creating several paintings of battles destined to decorate the Buen Retiro Palace. After the death of his patron, Antonio de Pereda found himself dismissed from court, and since then, he devoted himself to religious painting. His works are exhibited in the best museums in Europe, such as the Prado and the Hermitage, but also in major monasteries and churches of Madrid.