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that dangerous man; that is to say, the constant protection with which he favoured Velasquez. It was through the influence of the Count-Duke, that he came from Sevilla, still young, in order to make the portrait of the King, through which he secured his first appointment in the Royal Palace. Later on, in the year 1629, he contributed more than anyone else to the journey of the artist to Italy which had such a beneficial result on his progress, and, in order to carry it out, the favorite gave him not only strong recommendations, but also a considerable sum of money. In all the difficult circumstances which the painter went through in his poor life at the services of the Royal Court, he found in him always

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