On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00431
- Author
- Titian [Vecellio di Gregorio Tiziano] (Italian)
- Title
- Following Victory at Lepanto, Felipe II offers Prince Fernando to Heaven
- Chronology
- 1572-1575
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 335 cm x 274 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Felipe II (1556-1598) holds his
son, Fernando (1571-1578), up to an
angel who carries a palm leaf on
which is written: MAYORA TIBI
(Greater triumphs await you). At
his feet lies a chained Turk whose
turban has been removed.
This work was commissioned by the
Spanish Court and the painter was
sent a model by Sánchez Coello, or
was given very precise
instructions, as the work was to be
an ex-voto through which Felipe II
sought to give thanks for the
favors he had received. Titian, who
must not have felt very comfortable
with the commission, partially
delegated its completion to his
assistants.
The composition commemorates two
events that were very important for
the king and that happened at
almost the same time: his victory
over the Ottoman Empire at the
Battle of Lepanto, on 7 October
1571, and the birth, on 5 December
of that same year, of the infante
Fernando, who would have been the
next king had he not died seven
years later.
This work was listed in Spain for
the first time in the 1600
inventory of Madrid's Alcázar
Palace. In 1625, the Spanish
painter, Vicente Carducho, added
strips of fabric allowing him to
widen the composition to match the
dimensions of Carlos V in Mühlberg
(P410).
