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"El bufon Calabacilla" by D. de Velazquez, D. de Velazquez
(1599-1660), c. ? - Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
Note:
Some call the subject, don Juan Calabazas, others as the
"Bobo de Coria" (the fool of Coria) because he was mentally
subnormal. During the XVI century, royal courts found
entertainment in malformed and mal-developed servants. Note however that perhaps the story of "mental
retardation" may be
spurious because Juan Calabazas was paid high wages. This
unusual individual served the "Cardenal-Infante don Fernando
de Austria" and later the King of Spain.
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