Jerónima de Velasco de Ladrón de Guevara (Quito, c. 1630 – ?) was a renowned 17th-century poet from the Real Audiencia de Quito, now Ecuador, who gained widespread recognition for her eloquent Baroque poetry. Celebrated by contemporaries, including the famed Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, who praised her as “divine” in his Laurel de Apolo, she was admired for her intellectual prowess and poetic skill. Velasco’s work was included in Jacinto de Evia’s Ramillete de varias flores poéticas (1675), though much of her own writing has not survived. She spent most of her life in Pasto, Colombia, where she also managed family affairs and raised her children.
Early Life and Education
Jerónima de Velasco, often referred to as Jerónima de Velasco de Ladrón de Guevara, was born around 1630 in Quito, which at the time was part of the Real Audiencia de Quito, now Ecuador. Her exact birth date and place of birth are debated, with some sources indicating she may have been born in Pasto, now part of Colombia. She was the daughter of Captain Miguel Ortiz Fernández de Velasco and Doña María Magdalena de la Yuste. Little is known about her early life, but it is clear that she received an education uncommon for women of her time, especially in literary and cultural matters, which prepared her for a prominent role in the literary circles of the 17th century.
Literary Career
Jerónima de Velasco was highly regarded for her poetry during her lifetime. Her works earned her recognition across the Spanish-speaking world, and she was particularly admired for her eloquence, intellect, and mastery of poetic forms typical of the Baroque era. Her writing was associated with the gongorismo style, known for its complex and ornate expression. Velasco’s fame extended beyond her local circles and reached Spain, where Lope de Vega, one of the most prominent playwrights and poets of Spain’s Golden Age, honored her in his poem Silva II in El Laurel de Apolo (1630). In this poem, Lope de Vega extolled her talents, calling her “divine” and comparing her to the famous ancient poets Sappho and Erinna.
Though much of Velasco’s work has not survived, her poetry was included in Jacinto de Evia’s anthology Ramillete de varias flores poéticas (1675), a collection of poetry that exemplified the Baroque style in colonial America. This inclusion cemented her status as one of the foremost poets of her time, alongside other notable poets of the era.
Personal Life
Jerónima de Velasco married Luis Ladrón de Guevara y Zúñiga, a prominent figure who held various important positions in Pasto, including alguacil mayor and regidor. The couple had several children, including Mauricio, Columba, and María, who established families in the region. Velasco lived much of her life in Pasto, where she was known not only for her literary accomplishments but also for her active role in managing family affairs and businesses, an unusual undertaking for women of her time.
After the death of her husband in 1631, Velasco continued to live in Pasto, managing her estate and maintaining a presence in local society. A document from 1632, discovered in the archives of the Fundación Melchor Inca de Salazar, confirms that Velasco resided in Pasto and was involved in financial dealings, a testament to her independence and business acumen in an era when women were often restricted in such roles.
Legacy and Recognition
Jerónima de Velasco’s literary achievements were celebrated in her lifetime, with Lope de Vega’s tribute to her in El Laurel de Apolo being the most prominent example. He praised her poetic genius, comparing her to the celestial and immortal figures of ancient literature. Despite the lack of surviving manuscripts, her reputation as a poet was such that she was remembered long after her death, even though her exact year of passing is uncertain, with some suggesting it may have been around 1656.
Velasco’s legacy is tied to the broader recognition of women poets in colonial Latin America, a group often marginalized or forgotten in the historical record. Her association with literary figures like Lope de Vega, and her inclusion in major Baroque anthologies, highlights her importance in the transatlantic literary exchange between Spain and its colonies.
Conclusion
Although much of Jerónima de Velasco’s poetry is lost, the surviving references to her in anthologies and the works of her contemporaries, such as Lope de Vega, ensure that her legacy as one of the most distinguished female poets of the 17th century endures. Her contributions to Baroque poetry in colonial Latin America, as well as her recognition by one of the greatest writers of the Spanish Golden Age, underscore her significant, though underappreciated, role in literary history.
References
- Real Academia de la Historia, “Jerónima de Velasco.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Las2orillas, “Jerónima De Velasco De Ladrón De Guevara, la pastusa que enamoró a Lope de Vega.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Petroglifos Revista Crítica, “Gerónima de Velasco, ‘Safo’ de la Real Audiencia de Quito.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Instituto Cervantes, “Gerónima de Velasco en Cuadernos del Norte.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.