Baltasar de Echave

The recorded working language is Spanish. The field of work recorded is painting, creative and professional writing and Basque. Places of work recorded in the authority are Mexico and New Spain. Work by Baltasar de Echave is recorded in the collections of Museo Nacional de Arte and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

He was born at Zumaya, Guipuzcoa, Spain, and became one of the earliest Spanish artists to reach Mexico, arriving at about the same time, near the end of the 16th century, as Sebastian Arteaga and Alonzo Vasquez. As was tradition for young men of that time, his wife, also a painter, was his instructor. He died in Mexico. His son was Baltasar de Echave Ibía and his grandson was Baltasar de Echave Rioja, both painters.

Echave, whose subjects are chiefly religious, had especial skill in composition, and his best works are compared to Guercino. The Academy of San Carlos, Mexico City, has some of his major works: In the church of San José el Real, generally known as the "Profesa", several others exist, including "St. Isabel of Portugal", while he executed for the church of Santiago Tlaltelolco fifteen altar-panels. In the cathedral is his "Candelaria" and a "San Sebastian", believed to be by his wife. Among the smaller paintings of Echave is one of San Antonio Abad with St. Paul, the first hermit. The artist also had a reputation as an author, among his works being one on the Basque language (Discursos de la antigüedad de la lengua cántabra Bascongada, Mexico, 1607). • Illustration — The Adoration of the Magi • Illustration — The Prayer in the Garden • Illustration — The Martyrdom of Saint Apronianus • Illustration — The Martyrdom of Saint Pontianus • Illustration — The Porciúncula • Illustration — Portrait of a Lady