Description

The Marquisate of Villafranca del Bierzo is a relevant example of Hispanic collecting that began with the figure of Pedro de Toledo (1484-1553) II Marquis of Villafranca del Bierzo, Viceroy of Naples. This collection was increased over the centuries by members of the lineage who were particularly fond of art, among them Pedro de Toledo (1556-1627) V Marquis of Villafranca, governor of Milan.

The marriage policy with other noble houses that likewise treasured important collections is also relevant to the growth of the collection. 

In the XVII century the house of Villafranca incorporated by marriage the house of Vélez. In 1683 José Álvarez de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca, married Catalina Moncada, successor of his parents' houses: Fernando de Aragón y Moncada, VI Prince of Paterno and VIII Duke of Montalto, and María Teresa Fajardo Toledo Portugal, VII Marquise de los Vélez. After this marriage, his collection became part of the Villafranca estate.  

At the end of the XVIII century the house of Medina Sidonia fell on the house of Villafranca by inheritance.

José Álvarez de Toledo y Silva, XVIII Duke of Medina Sidonia and XIV Marquis of Villafranca offered for sale part of his art collections in Paris, Hotel Drouot, 21 April 1870. Although part of it was bought by the Duke of Medina Sidonia himself and other families of the Spanish aristocracy.

Bibliography

• Fátima Halcón (2021): "La colección artística de los marqueses de Villafranca del Bierzo en el siglo XVIII", Laboratorio de Arte, nº 33, pp. 249-274.
• Fátima Halcón y Francisco Javier Herrera García (2016): "Entre Sicilia y España: nuevas aportaciones a la colección artística de Luis Guillermo de Moncada, duque de Montalto (1614-1672)", vol. 28, Sevilla, pp. 114-139.