Berruguete Alonso
Alonso González
de Berruguete (Alonso Berruguete)
(c. 1488 – 1561) was a Spanish
painter, sculptor and architect. He is considered to be the most
important sculptor of the Spanish Renaissance, and is known for his
emotive sculptures depicting religious ecstasy or torment.
Born in the town of
Paredes de Nava, Berrugete would study art under the tutelage of his
father, the painter Pedro Berruguete. Following his father's death
in 1504, Berruguete travelled to Italy to continue with his study of
art, spending most of his time in Florence and Rome. It is here that
he studied sculpture under the Italian Master, Michelangelo. His
paintings produced in Italy showed a mannerist influence, with his
art being compared with contemporaries such as Jacopo Pontormo and
Rosso Fiorentino.
Berruguete returned
to Spain in 1517 and in 1518 was appointed to the position of court
painter and sculptor by Charles V of Spain. From here on, Berruguete
concentrated on sculpture. Works of his include an altar piece at
the Irish college in Salamanca (1529-1533), choir stalls at the
Cathedral of Toledo (1539-1543) and a tomb for the Archibishop of
Toledo Juan de Tavera at the hospital that Tavera founded, the
hospital of St. John the Baptist in Toledo (1552-1561).
