Calle de Ardemans

Madrid saw him born, probably on 30 June 1661, though even the date is disputed. His father, Nicolás, had come from German lands to serve as a royal bodyguard. The son, Teodoro de Ardemans, would end up leaving his name to this calle de Ardemans. He learned to paint in the workshop of Antonio de Pereda and later moved in the circle of Claudio Coello. His career turned when he won by examination the post of master builder of Granada Cathedral in 1688. In 1702 Philip V raised him to master of the royal works, and two years later he added the title of court painter: the king’s architect and the court’s portraitist at once. From his hands came the doorways, courtyard and towers of the Casa de la Villa, and the layout of the church of San Millán. In 1718 he drew the design for the Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, later reworked by Juvarra and Sacchetti. He also left books: the Ordinances of Madrid, in 1719. He died on 15 February 1726; it is said he was buried in the Capuchin convent of the Prado.