Brief Biography-Alonso Sánchez Coello was from Benifairó de les Valls in Spain; however, after his father died when he was ten, he moved to the family’s native Portugal. His grandfather had him trained under the Dutch portraitist Anthonis Mor, and the works of Titian influenced him. As a result, he was famed in Spain as the Portuguese Titian.
He travelled with Mor first to Lisbon and then to work for the Spanish Court in Madrid. When Mor departed to Holland, Sánchez Coello took his place as Court Painter. He eventually settled in Madrid with his seven children; his daughter Isabel became a painter.
He was highly successful as Court Painter, and Philip II rewarded him handsomely throughout his life; he spent the rest of his days in court. One of his most noted followers was Juan Pantoja de la Cruz. In addition, his works influenced Diego Velázquez.