On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01176
- Author
- Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y (Spanish)
- Title
- Felipe III on Horseback
- Chronology
- Ca. 1631
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 300 cm x 314 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
An equestrian portrait of King
Felipe III (1578-1621), the son of
Felipe II (1527-1598) and Ana de
Austria (1549-1580), with a
seascape in the background. He is
dressed as sumptuously as his high
position warrants, with the famous
“Pilgrim” pearl on his hat and the
large ruff collar of Dutch lace of
the sort that would be prohibited
in 1623 by his son's royal ruling
against sumptuosity.
The seascape is thought to be an
allusion to the king's trip to
Portugal in 1619. The rearing horse
and the staff the king holds in his
right hand serve to emphasized the
image of power and majesty.
This painting hung on one of the
smaller sides of the Hall of
Kingdoms at Madrid's Buen Retiro
Palace, although it was apparently
made earler and then retouched for
its new location. It is listed in
the 1772 and 1794 inventories of
Madrid's Royal Palace and entered
the Prado Museum collection in
1819.
