Son, brother, brother-in-law and father of painters, Zacarías González Velázquez developed a career intimately linked to the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, of which he would become general director in 1828. The influence of his family's artists and that of the Academy, together with his courtly career, were the two key factors in the development of his life and work.

Zacarías joined the San Fernando Academy in 1777 under the guidance of his father. That year he began his training and the following year he was awarded first prize in the second class of painting. His successful studies were completed in 1782, and from then on he accepted a series of private commissions, including the series of paintings of the life of Sain...