Perejón, Buffoon of the Count of Benavente and of the Grand Duke of Alba

The sitter is documented from 1544 as Pero Hern�ndez de la Cruz, known as Perej�n, one of the two ‘Pericos’ whose role at Court was to amuse the prince. The artist depicts Pejer�n full-length, life-size and in a three-quarter profile, standing before a dark background with no spatial references, a format subsequently adopted by Vel�zquez in Pablo de Valladolid. 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 Pejer�n dressed as a courtier with a black doublet and cap, white breeches and hose, slashed shoes and a sword at his waist.

Pero Hern�ndez de la Cruz, Perej�n, 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, Perej�n 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 Perej�n’s son, whose godfather was the Duke of Alba.