Orrente, Pedro

Orrente, Pedro a Spanish painter, was born at Montealegre, in Murcia, in 1560. It is not known under whom he studied in his own country. Afterwards he went to Italy, and became the pupil of Giacomo da Ponte (Bassano), whose manner of coloring he adopted, though his own style of coloring and design was very different. Some authors say that he was not a pupil of Bassano, and that he never went to Italy, supposing that he was a pupil of El Greco, and afterwards imitated the manner of Bassano, from seeing his work in Spain; but Lanzi conclusively shows that he visited Italy, where he painted some works which Conca pronounced superior to those of Bassano. On his return to Spain he was favored with the protection of the duke of Olivarez, who employed him to paint several pictures for the palace Bueno Retiro. He painted many works for the churches and convents at Valencia, Cordova, and Toledo. His works are numerous, and are to be found in most of the principal cities of Spain, where they are held in high estimation. In the cathedral at Toledo is an admired picture by him representing Santa Leocadia coming out of the sepulcher, and in the chapel of Los Reyes Nuevos, in the same church, was a picture of the Nativity, since removed to the royal collection at Madrid; it is a grand composition, admirably executed. In the same church are some superb landscapes, and a picture of Orpheus charming the brute creation, one of his most celebrated works. He died at Toledo in 1644, and was interred in the same church as El Greco.