Pedro de Mena y Medrano (Granada, 20 August 1628 – Málaga, 13 October 1688) was a prominent Spanish sculptor during the baroque period. After Alonso Cano's death in 1667, Pedro de Mena y Medrano became the top sculptor in the Iberian Peninsula. He became the official sculptor of the Toledo Cathedral and a Familiar of the Holy Office of Granada.
Pedro de Mena is one of the most significant and well-documented sculptors of the Andalusian Baroque. Pedro was summoned to the royal court in 1662, located in Madrid. During the 1670s, Pedro exhibited a strong business acumen. Beyond securing numerous contracts for his sculptural work, he expanded his activities into other ventures, including the slave trade, real estate transactions such as leasing and selling properties, and even silk trading.
Marriage
In 1647, he wed Catalina de Vitoria y Urquijo, and together they had many descendants, including five who joined religious orders. Working alongside Cano, Pedro embraced innovative techniques, more sophisticated methods, and fresh aesthetic and formal ideas. However, he maintained his commitment to realism in facial expressions rather than fully adopting Cano’s idealized and refined artistic vision. During this time, Pedro’s output was remarkably prolific. His reputation and prominence continued to rise, not diminishing in Cano’s presence but rather flourishing. His mentor and collaborator entrusted him with a significant portion of commissions that Cano himself was unable to complete due to other obligations. This piece was ultimately completed in Málaga in 1679, as noted in the sculptor’s will. While in Madrid, he secured multiple commissions, as recorded by Palomino and Ceán. Among these, Prince Doria entrusted him with crafting a Crucifix, which received high praise, even in Italy.
Statue of Saint Francis
thumb|right|Statue of Saint Francis of Assisi by Pedro de Mena y Medrano, Museum of the City of [[Antequera. c. 1663]]
Following his stay in Madrid, Pedro traveled to Toledo, where the Cathedral Chapter commissioned a statue of Saint Francis. His exceptional craftsmanship, according to Ceán, led to his appointment as the Chapter’s official sculptor on May 7, 1663.
Leading sculptor in the Iberian Peninsula
thumb|right|Ecce Homo by Pedro de Mena y Medrano, [[Convent of Las Descalzas Reales|Descalzas Reales, Madrid, c. 1673]]
Following Alonso Cano’s death in 1667, Pedro remained the most prominent sculptor in the Iberian Peninsula. The high regard for his work led to his sculptures commanding higher prices than those of most of his contemporaries. From that point onward, the volume of commissions he received increased significantly, forcing him to rely more heavily on his workshop, which ultimately led to a decline in the quality of many pieces produced during this period. His entrepreneurial endeavors in 1670 extended to providing services beyond sculpture for the Cathedral Chapter of Granada. He played a key role in procuring goods that arrived at the port of Málaga, including essential materials such as wax.
His strong ties with the Granada Chapter may have contributed to his being awarded the commission for the praying statues of the Catholic Monarchs in the cathedral—an opportunity that might have otherwise gone to José de Mora (1642–1724), who was already appointed Sculptor to the King and well established in his craft. The commission, valued at 3,000 ducats, was formalized on August 10, 1675, and was likely completed by January 1677, when Pedro de Mena y Medrano was documented to be in Granada.
Statue of Saint John (1682)
Fortunately, Pedro recovered, and in gratitude for the care he received from the hospitaller brothers of Saint John of God, he sculpted an image of the saint. This work was completed and delivered to the hospital on February 15, 1682.