Ramiro Núñez de Guzmán, duke of Medina de las Torres, or Beltrán Vélez de Guevara, Marquis of Campo Real? Re-Identification of an Equestrian Portrait Painted by Massimo Stanzione

Abstract

This paper questions the identification that traditionally has matched one equestrian portrait painted by Massimo Stanzione (1585-1656) to a Spanish noble. Stanzione painted two equestrian portraits. To date, only one out of the two personalities represented by Stanzione in this way has been effectively identified as Iñigo Vélez de Guevara, VIII count of Oñate; meanwhile, historians of Arts have only supposed that the other one was Ramiro Núñez de Guzmán, duke of Medina de las Torres. In the light of our documentary, historical and iconographic analysis, we conclude that this personality is not Medina de las Torres, but Beltrán Vélez de Guevara, marquis of Campo Real, brother of the VIII count of Oñate.