English: José de Ibarra

A portrait of Pedro Malo de Villavicencio

Inscription: "El Muy JH S.D. Don Pedro Malo de Villavizencio. Cab.ro del Orden de Calatrava, Consultor del S. Officio de la Jnquisission, de el Confejo de su Mag.d Juez Pribativo Superintendente, y Amd.or Gen.l de los Reales Azoques; Capitan Gen.l de esta nueva España, y Presidete de su R.l Audiencia, y Chancilleria &. Murió a dos de Abril de 1744 años. Teniendo de E dad 71 no Cumplidos"

18th century

Oil on canvas, 206 cm x 140 cm

Pedro Malo de Villavicencio was born in 1674. He was a knight of the Order of Calatrava and held the positions of consultant to the Holy Office of the Inquisition, general administrator, private judge and superintendent of the royal quicksilver; President of the Royal Audience of New Spain and Captain General. He passed away at the age of 71, on April 2, 1744. Among his literary work, Discourse on the right of sales tax on the sale of ecclesiastical property stands out.

In this painting, made by the well-known painter José de Ibarra, Don Pedro Malo de Villavicencio appears represented full-length with a black suit and cape, which highlights a golden emblem in red. He wears the characteristic white wig fashionable during the period, and in his left hand he holds white gloves and a hat. In his right hand you can see a text that possibly alludes to his writings on the rights of alcabalas. From his arm hangs a cane. The composition is accompanied by a table with two inkwells and a clock, as well as his noble coat of arms, located in the upper left corner, and the cartouche that narrates his biography in the lower corner.