On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01045
- Author
- Paret y Alcázar, Luis (Spanish)
- Title
- Fernando VII is sworn in as Prince of Asturias
- Chronology
- 1791
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 237 cm x 159 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A representation of two consecutive
moments in the ceremony at the
Church of the Royal Monastery of
San Jerónimo in Madrid on 23
September 1789, when the future
King Fernando VII (1784-1833) was
sworn in as Prince of Asturias: his
religious oath as successor to the
Throne, and the moment when he
kisses the hand of his father, the
King.
The Prince can be seen kneeling in
front of Cardinal Lorenzana and
before his father, Carlos IV
(1748-1819), who is next to Queen
María Luis de Parma (1751-1818)
under the canopy on the right.
Despite the large size of this
work, Paret depicts the moment with
a high degree of both pictorial and
historical detail. He may have
obtained the pertinent information
from La Gaceta de Madrid, a
newspaper that described the event.
There is a preparatory drawing for
the entire composition at the
Louvre Museum in Paris.
