Los Velasco. Política y arte

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The topic of the present dissertation is the political and artistic influence of the Velasco family, mainly during the fifteenth century. Thus, the first part summarizes the rise of the lineage to the high social and political spheres, close to the king and with great power in Castilla. It is in there where the Velascos developed the aforesaid activities. The territory we are talking about is located between the "Cordillera Cantábrica", at north; at south the Testa range, Frías y Abarane; at west, bordering with Virga and with Los Altos fells; and at east with the Bóveda , Arcena and Salvados ranges, with capital in Villarcayo. The political situation achieved over generations allowed the family to exercise an artistic patronage. On the one hand it aimed to promote the personal image and memory of the the indvidual patron and preserve that memory. For example, the Condestables Chapel is associated to the memory of Pedro Fernández de Velasco and Mencía Mendoza. On the other hand it was a way to project their high status in material ways, a kind of personal patronage, to show an image of power. So we will go through the Velascos who served as head of their lineage, both in terms of the historical vicissitudes they were involved in and in relation to the works that were promoted by the family.