Antonio de Puga (1602-1648)
The art historian, María Luisa Caturla, extensively studied the life of Antonio de Puga. Little biographical information is listed on de Puga before 1635. By this time, de Puga was in his early thirties and living in Madrid. De Puga was connected to the studio of Eugenio Cajes. It is possible that de Puga was called to complete various commissioned works after Cajes died in 1634. It has been mentioned in various historical documents that de Puga worked occasionally in the studio in Cajes, who was possibly one of his tutors. Historians often encounter confusion over the works of de Puga, because they are usually unsigned. Due to this fact, most of de Puga’s works are merely “attributed” to de Puga. While much doubt surrounds his remaining paintings, it is known that de Puga was well established in Madrid by the 1930s.
De Puga is particularly known for his portrait paintings. In addition to portraying nobles and royalty, de Puga painted many tradesmen, including knife sharpeners and oil vendors as well as peasants and beggars without title or occupation. De Puga’s range of rich and poor subjects provides an insight into life in Spain during the 1600s. “El Alfilador” or “The Knife Sharpener” know belongs to the Museo del Ermitage and is one of the most recognized paintings attributed to de Puga.
De Puga has paintings in museums around the world, including the Museo de Pontevedra, Museo Cortés de Puerto Rico, Museo Goya de Castres and of course in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. De Puga’s paintings also belong to collections in London, New York and Malibu, California.
Antonio de Puga is one of the major Spanish painters of the Baroque period. His paintings are considered to me masterpieces of Spain’s Golden Age in painting. Do you think you own a painting by Antonio de Puga? Contact us. We are the Antonio de Puga experts.