Felipe de Guevara and his Commentary on Painting and Ancient Painters

Abstract

In the last years of his life, the Spanish courtier Felipe de Guevara wrote the first treatise on painting in Spain. This paper closely examines his life (c.1500–1563) in its entirety, taking into account his different roles as courtier, collector of paintings and ancient coins, antiquarian and art writer. Within this context, the significance and content of his Commentary on Painting and Ancient Painters is analysed in depth to assess his attempts to position himself as a cultural advisor to Philip II.