Velasquez, Alexandro Gonzales

Velasquez, Alexandro Gonzales a Spanish painter and architect, was born at Madrid in 1719. He studied in the Academy of his native city, and made such rapid progress that at the age of nineteen, in connection with his brother Luis he was employed to paint the decorations of the theatre of the Retiro. In 1744 he superintended the painting and sculpture at San Ildefonso and afterwards was employed for three years in making the plans and elevations of the palace at Aranjuez. In 1752 he was elected subdirector of the Academy in the department of architecture, and in 1762 he was chosen for the same office in that of painting. Among .his architectural works at Madrid is the modernizing of the church Las Ballecas. He instructed many pupils, and died in 1772. See Michaud, Biographie Universelle; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.