Maestro de Becerril – Ezequiel Part 6 Prado Museum

The composition presents a seated male figure rendered in a formal, frontal pose. He is positioned centrally within the frame, commanding immediate attention. The mans age is evident through his deeply lined face and full white beard, suggesting wisdom and experience. His gaze is direct, engaging the viewer with an intensity that conveys authority.
He wears elaborate attire: a richly decorated hat adorned with what appears to be a heraldic emblem, and a voluminous cloak or mantle embellished with intricate patterns of dangling chains. The details in his clothing suggest high status and possibly religious significance. In his left hand, he holds a tall staff, its upper portion intricately carved, which serves as both a prop and a symbol of power or office. His right hand rests upon an open book, the text visible within, implying scholarship, prophecy, or divine revelation.
Behind the figure rises a complex architectural structure – a gilded screen or throne – that further emphasizes his elevated position. The background landscape is rendered in muted tones, providing a subtle contrast to the vibrant colors of the man’s garments and the gold detailing behind him. A small sculpted bust appears at the lower right corner, adding another layer of symbolic complexity.
The overall effect is one of solemn dignity and gravitas. The artist has employed a restrained palette, relying on careful modeling of light and shadow to define form and create depth. The composition’s symmetry reinforces the sense of order and control. Subtly, theres an interplay between the man’s physical presence – his age, his bearing – and the symbolic objects he holds: the staff representing authority, the book signifying knowledge or divine communication. This combination suggests a figure who is both powerful in his own right and entrusted with a significant responsibility, possibly of a spiritual nature. The inscription at the bottom confirms this impression by identifying him as “Ezequiel,” linking the image to a specific individual within a religious narrative.