Velasco, Dona Acislo Antonio Palomino De Castro

Velasco, Dona Acislo Antonio Palomino De Castro an eminent Spanish painter, was born at Bujalance, in Valencia, in 1653. His parents removed to Cordova, where he was educated for the Church; but, having a passion for painting and some knowledge of the art, he placed himself under the instruction of Juan de Valdes in 1672. He became intimate with Juan de Alfaro in 1675, and went with him to Madrid, in 1678, to assist him in some of his works. He was next employed in painting the ceiling of the Queen's Gallery at the Alcazar, which he did with so much satisfaction that he was appointed one of the king's painters. In 1690, on the marriage of Charles II, he designed the arches and other decorations for the bridal entry into the city. This confirmed him in his office of painter to the king. In 1692 he gave assistance to Luca Giordano in the great works he was about to execute. In 1697 he went to Valencia, where he executed some important works, principally the frescos in the Church of San Juan del Mercado. In 1705 he decorated the Convent of San Esteban at Salamanca, with some frescos representing the Church Militant

and Church Triumphant. In 1715 he published the first volume of his Museo Pictorico, and in 1724 the second volume. It is by this work that he is chiefly known abroad. Among the paintings not already mentioned are the works in the Carthusian Convent of Granada, five pictures for the grand altar at Cordova, and the hieroglyphics which adorned the funeral of Dofia Maria Luisa de Saboya. Velasco died at Madrid in 1726. He is known among foreign writers chiefly by the name of Palomino. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.