Azara, José Nicolás d'

b. 1731, Barbunales, Aragon

d. 26 January 1804, Paris

Studied at Huesca and the university of Salamanca. Showed an interest in fine art at an early age, and became a close friend of the painter Anton Raphael Mengs. In 1765 he became a representative of the Spanish government to the "daterie pontificale". Later, he became ambassador of Spain to the court of Rome. Sources: Hoefer, D. Nouvelle biographie universelle/générale, 1852-66, vol. 3, p. 918; Michaud. Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne, 1843-?, vol. 2, pp. 534-5.