Portrait of Don Pedro de Barberana y Aparregui

No contemporary documents survive for this full-length portrait. It is first mentioned as a Vélasquez work in 1972 by José López-Rey, who gave it the title A Knight of Calatrava.^[2] It was then in a private collection in New York. The only earlier reference to the work shows that it was bought in Europe around 1950. Other art critics supported López-Rey's conclusion and José Gudiol Ricart identified the work's subject as Pedro de Barberana (Briones, 1579- idem 1649), a lord, high treasurer and member of the royal privy council.^[3] In October 1630 he joined the Order of Calatrava, whose cross is shown on his breast and his cape. However, in October 1630 Vélasquez was still in Italy, meaning it must date from after that year.^[4][5]