Pablo de Céspedes (Córdoba, 1540 - 1608)

Pablo de Céspedes (Cordoba, c. 1538 - 1608) "Saint Sebastian" Oil on canvas. Signed and dated on the back in 16... 94,5 x 74,5 cm. Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, writer of treatises on art and poet. He was one of the most interesting characters of the late 16th century Andalusian humanist movement. He studied Humanities at the University of Alcalá de Henares, later travelling to Rome where he trained as a painter with Volterra, Zuccaro and Arbasia. He was a great admirer of Correggio. In 1577, he took a canonry at the Cathedral of Cordoba, which meant that he settled in the city and introduced his tasted for Michelangelo. In 1583 he returned to Rome for two years to then return to Cordoba in 1585. In his city of birth he continued with his artistic and humanistic life, frequenting social gatherings and mixing with important artistic and literary figures of the period. Some of best-known work includes the Altarpiece of the Last Supper which is kept at the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, the altarpiece of the Chapel of Saint Anne, the life-size figures of Saint Paul and Saint Thomas for the Convent of Saint Mary of Grace as well as different paintings which are kept at the Cathedral of Seville. Outside Spain there are also many other outstanding artworks such as the frescoes of the Chapel of the Annunciation in the Church of the Trinità dei Monti in Rome, "The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen" in the Louvre, and the two paintings kept at the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.