Juan de Borgoña, or his ancestors, probably originated in Burgundy. However, after a visit to Italy, he moved onto Spain, settling in Toledo in 1495 with a well developed early Renaissance style. His pictures were popular for their vivid colours and skilful depiction of costume. The gold and silver that was imported into Spain, from the newly discovered Americas, made the country one of the wealthiest powers in the world during the 16t century. The tooled gold backgrounds in these works are characteristic of Castilian painting from this period.

Together with St Jerome and St Ambrose, St Augustine and St Gregory were celebrated as the Fathers of the Church and were often represented in the wings of altarpieces.

These paintings once belonged to Alejandro Mon who was the Spanish Ambassador in Paris for a number of years during the 1850s and 1860s. He was a close friend of the Conde de Quinto from whose collection John and Joséphine acquired these paintings in 1862.

Provenance: bequeathed by the Founders, 1885

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
Material: Tempera and gold on panel
Artist: Juan de Borgoña (active 1494-1536)
Date: 1510

Image Details
Date: 7 Feb 2025
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Bowes Museum asset. This image cannot be licensed.