Cristóbal Vela (c. 1588-1658) was a Spanish

Baroque The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

and gilder. Born in Jaén, Spain, it is agreed that Vela studied the first principles of painting in Córdoba, Andalusia, under Pablo de Céspedes. He then moved to Madrid, where he completed his art studies under Vincenzo Carducci. Some sources also claim that Vela studied in Seville beginning in 1610, and that his work is influenced by the Sevilian school. At the end of his education, Vela worked with two art dealers in Seville, Carlos Atabante and Juan de Quintanilla. For Atabante, Vela painted 330 canvases of different themes and sizes, and for de Quintanilla, he painted 300 religious pieces, some of which had profane themes. He followed the Mannerist style, and was influenced by both Naturalism and Spanish architecture. In 1618, Vela took over work on the golden

altarpiece An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting o ...

of San Anton in the church of San Juan. In 1619, he was hired to create an altarpiece for a client in

Campillo de Arenas Campillo de Arenas is a city located in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE INE, Ine or ine may refer to: Institutions * Institut für Nukleare Entsorgung, a German nuclear research center * Instituto Nacional de Es ...

. In 1627, Vela was working in

Priego Priego is a municipality located in the Cuenca Province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. According to the census 2004 (INE), the municipality has a population of 1,052 inhabitants. Notable people * Luis Ocaña Jesús Luis Ocaña Pernía (; 9 ...

. His work on the altarpieces of ''Saint Peter'' and ''Our Lady of the Rosary'' in the parish church are among his oldest surviving works in Córdoba''.'' In Priego, he married Catherine Garrido and had a son,

Antonio Vela Cobo Antonio Vela Cobo (1629-1675) was a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor and gilder. Cobo was the son of the painter and gilder Cristóbal Vela Cristóbal Vela (c. 1588-1658) was a Spanish Baroque painter and gilder. Born in Jaén, Spain, ...

(1629-1675), who became a painter, sculptor, and gilder. By 1635, Vela had relocated to Córdoba, where he worked as a painter and gilder of altarpieces and sculptures. In 1645, he was commissioned to complete altarpiece paintings of the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba after winning a competition alongside

Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra (10 July 1616 – 2 February 1668) was a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor, and poet. Biography Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra was born at Córdoba, Spain. He trained in painting under his father Agustín ...

. Although he was likely selected due to his seniority and status in Córdoba society, this is considered to be one of Vela's achievements. Vela's most acclaimed work was painted at the church of San Agustín de Córdoba, with most of his archangels now located at the

Fine Arts Museum of Córdoba The Fine Arts Museum of Córdoba ( es, Museo de Bellas Artes de Córdoba) is a State-owned art museum located in the Spanish city of Córdoba. History Similarly to most art museums in Spain, its creation ensued after the 1835 '' desamortizació ...

and the church of Santa Marina. Other famous works of his include the upper choir of San Agustín de Córdoba, which follows the iconographic style of

Francisco Pacheco Francisco Pacheco del Río (bap. 3 November 1564 – 27 November 1644) was a Spanish painter, best known as the teacher and father-in-law of Diego Velázquez and Alonzo Cano, and for his textbook on painting, entitled ''Art of Painting'', ...

and his prophet series for the convent of St. Augustine. Cristóbal Vela died in 1658 when he fell into a well at his house and drowned. After his death, his son Antonio took over his workshop. Many of Vela's works are now considered lost, while several others suffered irreversible damage due to unskilled restoration.

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