Biography

Pedro Berruguete is one of the most significant painters from the second half of the 15th century in Castile and León. There is little information available about his life, other than that he was born in Paredes de Nava (Palencia) around 1445. It is not certain where he received his training, although some researchers suggest that it was in Castile under the guidance of a master knowledgeable in Northern European art (Silva Maroto, 1998; Olmo Iturriarte and Silva Maroto, 2003). It is possible that around 1470 he travelled to Italy, as in 1477 there is a record of a Spanish painter named Pedro working for Federico da Montefeltro in Urbino, although this has been widely debated and there is currently no consensus on the matter (Marías and Pereda, 2002). His style combined elements of Flemish and Hispano-Flemish art, characterised by the depiction of recognisable human figures, the creation of the illusion of various textures, and the use of gold to evoke a sacred atmosphere (Redondo Cantera, 2020). However, what truly distinguished him was his interest in architectural representation, blending Gothic elements with those of classical influence in his compositions (Ávila, 2004). Numerous works are attributed to Pedro Berruguete in museums and collections. Examples include: the panels of the main altarpiece of Ávila Cathedral; the painted cloths (The Two Magi, Saint Peter and Saint Paul) held at the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid; the Birth of the Virgin at the Montserrat Museum; and the Christ of Pity among Angels in the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan.