Simón de Lavalle was born in the far north of Spain, in Múzquiz, Valle de Somorrostro (province of Vizcaya), in 1706. He journeyed to Peru as an adult, appointed the Royal Magistrate of Piura, Spanish accountant for the Royal Bank of Trujullo, and Inspector of Cajamarca, Huamachuco, and Huambos. He bacame Mayor of Trujillo.
The portraits of him and his wife,María del Carmen Cortéz,were likely commissioned to commemorate his decoration with the Order of Calatrava by the king of Spain in 1750.
Their three sons took positions in Viceregal government, the military, and church hierarchy. Their two daughters married military men with positions in the Royal Mint and local governmental councils. Their descendant, General Juan Lavalle González, was an important figure in the struggle that led to the establishment of the Argentine Republic in 1852.
"MARÍA DEL CARMEN CORTÉZ SANTELIZES Y CARTAVIO"
Peru (probably Lima), circa 1750 - Oil on canvas - 81 x 65.4 cm.
Her family's presence in the New World can be traced to 1493, when an ancestor on her mother's side, Francisco Roldán, accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage. Roldán was the logistics coordinator for the voyage, and captain of one of the ships.
María del Carmen Cortés was born in the city of Trujillo, Peru, in 1712. She married,Simón de Lavalle,who was sent by the king of Spain to govern in Peru.
Re: hola 16 Nov 2005