Juan de
Flandes

First mentioned in the accounts of Queen Isabella in 1496, Two years later, documents say about him already as "the court painter to Her Majesty". The place with the Queen, he keeps until her death in 1504 he painted a few portraits belong to the ruling dynasty. After this he is sent to Salamanca, where in 1505, documented the creation of several works for the University and "the altar of San Miguel" for the city's Cathedral. In 1509, by order of Bishop Juan Bautista de Fonseca it creates a large retablo for the Cathedral of Valencia. It consists of 12 pieces and makes a big impression. In Valencia Flandes remained until his death presumably occurred before October 1519, after which his wife in the administrative documents was mentioned as a widow.

The exact years of life are unknown, was born CA. 1460-ies. Worked in Spain in the period from 1496 in 1519 at the court of Queen Isabel of Castile.

About the biography of the artist is little known. His real name is not clear, there are options — "Juan de Flandes," indicating nationality, "John or Jan of Flanders", also "Jan Sallaert" or "Master of Ghent".

First mentioned in the accounts of Queen Isabella in 1496, Two years later, documents say about him already as "the court painter to Her Majesty". The place with the Queen, he keeps until her death in 1504 he painted a few portraits belong to the ruling dynasty.

After this he is sent to Salamanca, where in 1505, documented the creation of several works for the University and "the altar of San Miguel" for the city's Cathedral. In 1509, by order of Bishop Juan Bautista de Fonseca it creates a large retablo for the Cathedral of Valencia. It consists of 12 pieces and makes a big impression. In Valencia Flandes remained until his death presumably occurred before October 1519, after which his wife in the administrative documents was mentioned as a widow.

Flandes — the representative of the so-called "Spanish-Flemish" school of painting of Castile, of the country where at the time art was dominated by Dutch influence. His works are characterized by features typical of the Northern Renaissance, in particular, felt the influence of Jan van Eyck.

For Queen Isabella Flandes created portable retablo of the 47 miniature images. Of them survived less than half, scattered in different museums of the world, from the Metropolitan to the Louvre and the Prado.

Portraits of Flandes is distinguished by thoroughness, attentiveness and harmony, these are typical examples of Dutch portraiture of the XV century, however, the second row. He repeatedly wrote to Queen Isabella and the young woman, and a stern old woman with a sagging face with wrinkles: the art direction had no inclination to idealize.

His extant images of Juana the Mad, the then Infanta, her husband Philip the Handsome and anonymous the Infanta, presumably Catherine of Aragon, future Queen of England (the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid). The first known Spanish court portrait, a series which will continue Velasquez and Goya.