José Rafael de Silva Fernández de Híjar, 12th Duke of Híjar
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José Rafael de Silva Fernández de Híjar y Palafox, 12th Duke of Híjar (29 March 1776 – 16 September 1863), was a Spanish noble, Director of the Prado Museum between 1826 and 1838 and Sumiller de Corps between 1824 and 1854.
Early life[edit]
José Rafael was born in Madrid on 29 March 1776. He was the second son of Pedro de Alcántara de Silva Fernández de Híjar y Abarca de Bolea, IX Duke of Híjar and Rafaela de Palafox y Croy d'Havré.[1]
He unexpectedly became Duke of Híjar, when his elder brother, Agustín Pedro Fadrique, 10th Duke of Híjar, died in 1817 and his brother's only daughter, Francisca Javiera, 11th Duchess of Híjar, died in 1818. He also inherited the titles of Duke of Lécera, Almazán and Bourneville, as well as Count-Duke of Aliaga, Marquess of Ornani, Almenara and Torres, and Count of Belchite, Salinas, Ribadeo and Aranda.[2]
Career[edit]
He was a Senator, a Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Santiago. He fought against the French and reached the rank of Lieutenant general.
In 1824, King Ferdinand VII of Spain made him Sumiller de Corps and in 1826, he became Director of the Prado Museum. During his period as director, the museum acquired the Christ Crucified by Velázquez, and the collection of María Teresa de Borbón, 15th Countess of Chinchón.[2] He kept the museum's collection together in the uncertain times following the death of King Ferdinand VII of Spain.[3]
Personal life[edit]
In 1801, he married Juana Nepomucena Fernández de Córdoba Villarroel Spínola y la Cerda (1785–1813), Countess of Salvatierra, and had three children:[1]
- Cayetano de Silva y Fernández de Córdoba (1805–1865), XIII Duke of Híjar.[1]
- Andrés Avelino de Silva y Fernández de Córdoba (1806–1885), Duke of Aliaga.[1]
- María Antonia de Silva y Fernández de Córdoba (born 1808).[1]
The Duke of Híjar died in Madrid in 16 September 1863.[1]
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f The Titled Nobility of Europe: An International Peerage, Or "Who's Who", of the Sovereigns, Princes and Nobles of Europe. Harrison & Sons. 1914. p. 320. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Fernández de Híjar, José Rafael Fadrique, XIII duque de Híjar". www.museodelprado.es. Prado Museum. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "José Rafael Fadrique de Silva Fernández de Híjar , 12th Duke of Híjar". www.museodelprado.es. Prado Museum. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
External links[edit]
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