90 - Viceregal School. Peru. Dated 1694.

Viceregal School. Peru. Dated 1694. "Portrait of Pedro de Zamora Hurtado" Oil on canvas. 107 × 75.5 cm. The sitter depicted in our painting is Pedro de Zamora Hurtado (Lucena, c. 1603–Madrid, 1654), a jurist and senior magistrate of the Hispanic Monarchy. He was also the uncle of the individual portrayed in our lot 91. After serving as Regent of the Royal Audiencia of Seville and as the city's assistant, he was appointed a Councillor of the Royal and Supreme Council of the Indies on 31 January 1653. From this institution, one of the principal centres of government of the Monarchy, he participated in the high administration of the American and Philippine dominions, overseeing matters of justice, government, the appointment of officials and legislation concerning the Indies. His experience as a magistrate and Regent of an Audiencia is particularly significant, since the Council exercised superior jurisdiction over the Audiencias and courts of the American territories. His service to the Indies, however, was brief: he died in Madrid on 25 February 1654, just over a year after his appointment. His historical significance is considerable and lies in his position within the machinery of government that administered America from the Court. Although he never set foot in the viceroyal territories himself, his role was essential in enabling his descendants, including his nephew portrayed in the following lot, to cross the ocean to the Americas and go on to hold important governmental positions within the Viceroyalty, this time on the ground. Beneath the portrait, the cartouche contains a brief biography of Zamora, highlighting the many offices he held during his distinguished career: “Don. Pedro de Zamora Hurtado Colegial del Colegio Maior de Cuenca en Salamanca Abad de Santa Leocadia. Dionidad y Canonigo Doctoral de la Santa Iglesia de Toledo Primada de las Españas, Inquisidor y Vicario General de su Arzobispado. Capellan Maior de la Real Capilla de la Señora Rey-na Dona Catalina en dicha Santa Iglesia, Presidente de la Congregacion de las Santas Iglesias de las Coronas de Castilla y Leon del Consejo de su Magestad en las Plazas de Regente y Asistente de Sevilla y Maestre de Campo General de su Reynado y Provincia y Consejero en el Consejo Supremo y Real de las Indias y en el Consejo Real de Castilla. Obiit Matriti Año de 1694 Etatis sua 28”. (“Don Pedro de Zamora Hurtado, Collegiate of the Colegio Mayor de Cuenca in Salamanca, Abbot of Santa Leocadia, Dignitary and Doctoral Canon of the Holy Church of Toledo, Primate of the Spains, Inquisitor and General Vicar of its Archbishopric. Senior Chaplain of the Royal Chapel of Lady Queen Doña Catalina in the said Holy Church, President of the Congregation of the Holy Churches of the Crowns of Castilla y León, Councillor of His Majesty, holding the positions of Regent and Assistant of Seville and Master General of the Field of his Kingdom and Province, and Councillor of the Supreme and Royal Council of the Indies and of the Royal Council of Castile. Died in Madrid Year of 1694 In the year of his 28”) Provenance: - Private collection, Spain. Since its establishment, the work has remained within the same family through successive generations.