ASTOR, Diego de

(b. ~1587 Mechelen, d. ~1650 Madrid)

Spanish engraver and medallist of Flemish birth. From the beginning of the 17th century until 1609 he lived in Toledo, where, under the supervision of El Greco, he worked as an engraver and printed (1605-06) such works of his master as Sts Peter and Paul (1603-07; Stockholm, Nationalmuseum) and St Francis and Brother Leo (c. 1600-05; Ottawa, National Gallery). Other engravings from this period include frontispieces for Historia de … Nuestra Señora de Valvanera (Ávila, 1607) by Francisco de Ariz and the Index librorum prohibitorum (Madrid, 1612) by Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas, the Archbishop of Toledo. From 1609 to 1636 he was engraver at the Casa de Moneda in Segovia, where he created designs for currency and made the printing plates. He also executed engravings for Obras espirituales (Alcalá de Henares, 1618) by St John of the Cross and the frontispiece for Historia … de Segovia (Segovia, 1637) by Diego de Colmenares.

In 1636 he moved to Madrid as an employee of the Imprenta del Sello Real. Although his exact date of death is uncertain, he made his will in September 1650; it shows that he was owed a significant amount of money by Philip IV. His general style, as well as his working method, is similar to that of Flemish engravers, although his early prints after El Greco show an influence from the painter. His son Diego de Astor the younger (active c. 1630-60) was also an engraver and in 1636 took over his father’s position at the Casa de la Moneda, Segovia.

St Francis and Brother Leo Meditating on Death

This engraving was made after a painting by El Greco (now in the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa).

Prints played a key role in religious propaganda. In the Hispanic world, it was Dutch artists who performed this task. As a result, Spain lacked skilled engravers who might have reproduced El Greco’s work for a larger audience.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 33 minutes):

Michael Haydn: St Francis Mass

Send Postcard Learn More

Sts Peter and Paul

This engraving was made after a painting by El Greco (now in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm). It is signed “D.D. Astor sculp. Toleti anno 1608”. The engraving shows the original format of the painting which has been trimmed on the right, and the signature “domhnikos qeotokopoulos”, missing on the painting, on the edges of pages of the closed book. It is one of only four known prints after El Greco’s compositions by Diego de Astor, who was employed by El Greco between 1605 and 1608.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 3 minutes):

Guillaume Dufay: Aurea luce, hymn for the feast of Sts Peter and Paul

Send Postcard Learn More