# Perejón, Buffoon of the Count of Benavente and of the Grand Duke of Alba [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MOR VAN DASHORST, Anthonis]() - Date: 1551-1600 - Technique: Oil on canvas, 185 x 94 cm ## Commentary Perejón, Buffoon of the Count of Benavente and of the Grand Duke of Alba c. 1560 Oil on canvas, 185 x 94 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid The sitter is documented from 1544 as Pero Hernández de la Cruz, known as Perejón, one of the two 'Pericos' whose role at Court was to amuse the prince. The artist depicts Pejerón full-length, life-size and in a three-quarter profile, standing before a dark background with no spatial references, a format subsequently adopted by <a onclick="return OpenOther\('/html/v/velazque/06/0604vela.html'\)" href="/html/v/velazque/06/0604vela.html">Velázquez in Pablo de Valladolid.</a> The fact that he occupies all the available foreground space - his right foot almost touching the lower edge of the canvas - makes it difficult to appreciate his actual size. Only the large head, short legs, and deformed right hand holding the pack of cards indicate his occupation, 'the profession of jests'. With his characteristic objectivity and painstaking technique, Mor depicts Pejerón dressed as a courtier with a black doublet and cap, white breeches and hose, slashed shoes and a sword at his waist. Pero Hernández de la Cruz, Perejón, a servant of the Count of Benavente, enjoyed the favour of the future Philip II, taking part in many of the festivities organised by him and receiving suits of clothes and costly gifts from as early as 1544. Married and with children, Perejón owned several houses in Benavente from where Prince Philip - en route to England to marry Mary Tudor - and his son Don Carlos saw five bulls in the ring in 1554 and attended the baptism of Perejón's son, whose godfather was the Duke of Alba. ## Related artworks - [Anna of Austria, Queen of Spain]() - [Anne Fernely, the Wife of Sir Thomas Gresham]() - [Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle]() - [Cardinal Granvelle's Dwarf]() - [Catherine of Austria, Wife of King John III of Portugal]() - [Emperor Maximilian II]() - [Empress Maria of Austria, Wife of Maximilian II]() - [Joanna of Austria]() - [Knight of the Spanish St James Order]() - [Lady wearing a Cross]() - [Lady with the Jewel]() - [Margaret, Duchess of Parma]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()