Portrait of Captain Antonio José Clemente de Aróstegui

Portrait of Captain Antonio José Clemente de Aróstegui

circa 1783
Artist
unknown artist
Country
Mexico
Object
painting, scroll
Medium
Oil on canvas scroll mounted on gilt wood
Accession Number
2013.327
Credit Line
Gift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer

Unknown artist, Portrait of Captain Antonio José Clemente de Aróstegui, about 1783. Oil paint on canvas scroll mounted on gilt wood; 28¾ × 18½ in. Gift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 2013.327.

Dimensions
height: 28.7402 in, 73.00 cm; width: 18.5039 in, 47.00 cm; frame height: 40.5 in, 102.87 cm; frame width: 32 5/8 in, 82.8675 cm; frame depth: 3.75 in, 9.525 cm
Department
Mayer Center, Latin American Art
Collection
Latin American Art

This painting is mounted as a scroll so it could be rolled up for travel. The subject is Captain Antonio José Clemente de Aróstegui, an infantry captain in the Aragon Regiment of the Spanish Army. We know this because of his white jacket with red cuffs and the epaulettes on his shoulders, which indicate his rank. The insignia of the knightly order of Santiago appears on his jacket and on a matching pendant suspended from a diamond bow pin. His belt buckle bears the royal insignia of the Order of Carlos III, King of Spain. Both orders were among the most distinguished honors granted in Spain.
--Julie Wilson Frick, 2017

Known Provenance
Gifted 25 November 2013 by Frederick and Jan Mayer of Denver, CO, to the Denver Art Museum. Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.
Exhibition History
  • "From Viceregal to Verancular: Painting in Colonial Mexico and New Mexico," Nov 17, 2006-Apr 29, 2007, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Santa Fe