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CARTA EXECUTORIA DE HIDALGUIA, issued by Philip II, King of Spain, in favour of Cristóbal Quintero Velázquez, in Spanish, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
CARTA EXECUTORIA DE HIDALGUIA, issued by Philip II, King of Spain, in favour of Cristóbal Quintero Velázquez, in Spanish, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [Granada, 25 February 1590] 310 x 210 mm. 62 leaves including blank endleaf, 34 lines written in brown ink between two pairs of verticals and 35 horizontals ruled in blue, justification: 240 x 134mm, each folio with notary's endorsement in the lower margin and calligraphic ascenders to upper margins, FOURTEEN LARGE AND TWO SMALL INITIALS with foliate staves in liquid gold on blue or red grounds with liquid silver decoration, PORTRAIT OF PHILIP II a small miniature with the initial P, THREE FULL-PAGE MINIATURES, three additional endorsements in different hands (some small pigment losses to miniatures, two smudges to Virgin's mantle in Visitation, liquid silver in initials oxidised). Contemporary red velvet with coloured silk cord and lead seal of Philip II, edges gilt (velvet rubbed at extremities and spine, seal detached). Vellum-backed cloth case. PROVENANCE: 1. Cristóbal Quintero Velázquez 2. Sotheby's 13 November 1933, lot 52 3. Genaro Santino Buncos?, Puerto Rico 4. Gullvinio Santino? 21 January 1973, Puerto Rico 5. Robert W. Skinner 27 September 1977, lot 126 This attractive and skilfully painted carta executoria confirms, at his request, the status of hidalguia of Cristóbal Quintero Velázquez, resident in Huelva but native of Trigueros, exempting him from paying any future tributes to the King, and forcing the city of Huelva to return any tributes paid prior to the verdict. The document comprises the city's official recognition of the good name and the pure lineage of the Velázquez family, proven by the numerous testimonies of the inhabitants of Trigueros and Huelva. The additional endorsements on the verso of the final folio and the end pastedown, the first two dated 15 March 1590 and 13 November 1592, provide proof that the carta executoria was presented before the chancery of Huelva, who agree to the terms stated by Philip II. The miniatures are framed with arches containing monochrome portrait medallions and fields of liquid gold with brightly coloured grotteschi including harpies, birds, foliage, urns etc, Virtues and trumpetting females in the spandrels. The subjects portrayed are as follows: f.1v. Cristóbal Quintero Velásquez, his wife, daughter and son kneeling in prayer below the Visitation. At the bottom, a cartouche inscribed 'Don Philippe'; f.2r St Jerome in the wilderness, over a cartouche reading 'Por la Gracia de Dios'; f.2v St James slaying the moors, above the coat of arms of the Velázquez family, composed of 13 blue balls on a golden field, with helmet and feathered crest and acanthus mantling. Arch above bearing the inscription 'Rey de Castilla'; f.59v Three-quarter-length portrait of Philip II, in armour and holding a sceptre.