The King's Sculptor During the 16th and 17th Centuries: Review and New Contributions to the Understanding of an Artistic Position

This paper aims to delve into the peculiarities surrounding the artists who held the position of Sculptor of the Royal Chamber or of the King between 1552 and 1701. The starting point will be the works that Professor Martin Gonz & aacute;lez published in the 1990s; however, while his interests were mainly focused on the works promoted by the Crown during this period, the pages of this article will focus on the conditions that this rank entailed for the way of life and professional development of the artists who held it. This change in perspective will lead to the discovery of new aspects about the prestige and risks that working for the Court entailed for these authors.