Charles II in armor

Charles II in armor
Spanish: Carlos II con armadura
Artist Juan Carreño de Miranda
Year 1681
Medium Oil on canvas
Dimensions 232 cm × 125.5 cm (91 in × 49.4 in)
Location Museo del Prado, Madrid

Charles II in armor is an oil painting by the Spanish painter Juan Carreño de Miranda, of Carlos II of Spain, from 1681. A number of actual artists, under the patronage of Charles II, built one of the best art collections in Europe. This picture was originally located in a room of El Escorial, but now it belongs to the Prado Museum in Madrid with the inventory number P07101.[1]

Description

The painting is a full-length portrait of young Carlos II of Spain with long hair and dressed with military equipment in the form of armor, riding boots, sword and scepter. The armor is decorated with the cross of Burgundy and bright sunshine. Behind the king you can see a table supported on bronze lions, above which is a helmet and a glove. In the background, behind a balustrade, two warships firing cannons are looming.

Analysis

Charles II was the last Habsburg to reign in Spain, and was born with physical and mental disabilities, and he relied on caregivers throughout his life. The artist had a difficult job to present the king in an idealized form.[2] According to the dating of the picture, the king was 20 years of age. It was in this work, for the first time, he was depicted in military garments, the military background of the portrait references the wars with Louis XIV of France. The symbols drawn in the armor are those belonging to the one used by Felipe II in the Battle of San Quintin in the year 1557. Tests done on the painting with X-rays have shown, that under the current layer, there is a portrait of the king as a 10 year old.[3]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/italianmasterpieces/about/patronage/patron-data/charles-ii.html
  2. ↑ http://mismuseos.net/comunidad/metamuseo/recurso/carlos-ii-con-armadura/ebc93c0e-d5e7-4973-93e0-9a662c944d59
  3. ↑ https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/charles-ii-in-armour/a92c1e51-6691-4e4e-977b-107058b3327f
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