Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo spouse Francisca de Silva Velázquez y Pacheco
Life
Little is really known about del Mazo's early life. The date and place of his birth are uncertain. Apparently, he was born in Cuenca, as his parents, Hernando Martínez and Lucia Bueno del Mazo, were from that province. However, some sources consider Madrid as his native city. The date of his birth has been estimated around 1612 since it is known that his mother was born in 1596 and he married in 1633 when he probably was in his early twenties.The whereabouts of his training remain a mystery. He must have been in Velázquez's workshop sometimes before his marriage, so it is quite possible that he had been his future father-in-law's apprentice. Del Mazo married the famous painter's only surviving daughter, Francisca de Silva Velázquez y Pacheco, on August 21, 1633, at the Church of Santiago in Madrid. Philip IV and the Prime Minister, the Count-Duke of Olivares, served as the couple's sponsors. The marriage was the event that guaranteed Mazo's future success at Court. Velázquez immediately arranged a royal appointment and on February 23, 1634, he transferred to del Mazo his position of Usher of the King's Chamber, with the permission of the King. From this it can be assumed that del Mazo was then already a disciple of the famous painter, and from that date he was closely associated with his father-in-law with whom he lived and collaborated. Velázquez furthered del Mazo's career with a steady hand and secured palace appointments for him and later for del Mazo's children.
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