PANTOJA DE LA CRUZ, Juan
(b. 1553, Valladolid, d. 1608, Madrid)

Portrait of Diego de Villamayor

1605
Oil on canvas, 89 x 71 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Pantoja de la Cruz was familiar with the work of Venetian painters, but he took from them only the impressive pose of the formal portrait and avoided the expression of feelings and emotions. The main element in this portrait of a prominent aristocrat is the armour, which allows us to judge the skill and style of Spanish armourers, who found inspiration in Moorish ornament.