Mazo was the son-in-law of Velázquez and succeeded him as court painter (Pintor de Cámara) to Philip IV of Spain. Only two signed works by Mazo are known, one of them, 'Queen Mariana in Mourning', is in the Collection.
Mazo was born in the province of Cuenca, probably at Beteta. He married Velázquez's daughter in 1633, and had probably entered the studio of Velázquez about 1630. He assisted Velázquez in the production of court portraits, working in an approximation of his father-in-law's style, and was painter to Philip's son, Prince Balthasar Carlos (died 1646). Because his style derives from that of Velázquez it is difficult to attribute paintings to Mazo with certainty; there is a tendency to credit him with works not thought good enough to be by Velázquez himself. The painting of the artist and his family in Vienna (Kunsthistorisches Museum) is reasonably attributed to him.
He was succeeded as Pintor de Cámara by Juan Carreño, who produced copies of Mazo's popular picture of Queen Mariana.
Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo
about 1612/16; died 1667
Paintings by Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo
Seated in a palatial interior, Queen Mariana of Spain is in mourning – she wears a white wimple and the black habit of widow’s weeds. This portrait – one of Mazo’s finest works – was painted the year after the death of her husband Philip IV, King of Spain. Their son and heir, Charles, was too you...
Possibly by Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo
A commanding male figure stares out at us, his white lace collar, shimmering silk sleeves and red sash standing out against his sombre black clothing and the nondescript background. This is Don Adrián Pulido Pareja, a distinguished captain in the Spanish royal navy.He wears the Knight’s badge of...