MNAA1597

Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Bishop of Osma
Author: Unknown
Origin: Spain
Dating: 18th century
Material: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions (cm): 75,3 x 61,1
Inv. no.: MNAA1397 / MNAA1597 / PD0441dep

This painting portrays Juan de Palafox, first Bishop of Puebla de los Ángeles (Mexico) and, later-on, bishop of Osma (Spain).

It is a composition in which the Bishop is wearing an episcopal attire. On the right side of the painting, one may see a table covered with a tablecloth and, on it, there is a cross with an image of Christ crucified.

Juan de Palafox was a politician, administrator and Catholic cleric in 17th-century Spain.

As a natural son of Jaime de Palafox – the Marquis of Ariza, from the Aragonese nobility – he was taken in by a family of millers who raised him for ten years. Later, his father recognized him and educated him in Alcalá and Salamanca (Spain).

In 1626, he was a deputy of the nobility in the Cortes de Monzón and, later-on, a Council of War promoter and member of the Council of the Indies – the main administrative body for the Spanish Empire overseas territories.

In 1629, he was ordained and became chaplain to Maria of Austria – the Holy Roman Empress, sister of King Felipe IV of Spain – and travelled with her on several trips throughout Europe.

In New Spain (Mexico), he was Bishop of Puebla de los Angeles (1640 to 1655), interim Archbishop (1640 to 1642), and the 18th Viceroy (June 1642 to November 1642). After losing an important contend against the Jesuits – on ecclesiastical jurisdiction – he returned to Spain and was appointed Bishop of Osma (Soria, Spain) in 1653. He died there a few years later.

Juan de Palafox was an enthusiastic benefactor, transforming Puebla into the musical centre of New Spain. He strongly believed in the power of education and culture, and the collected 5000 books on science and philosophy – known as the Palafoxiana Library. As a writer, he was the author of spiritual works, such as the “Trumpet of Ezekiel” (Madrid, 1658).

Despite the beatification process that began in 1659, he was only designated in 2011. He is buried in the Cathedral of la Asunción de El Burgo de Osma.

Objeto museológico (PDB)