On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01136
- Author
- Sánchez Coello, Alonso (Spanish)
- Title
- Prince Carlos
- Chronology
- Ca. 1558
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 109 cm x 95 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCIONREAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
This portrait depicts Prince Carlos
(1545-1568), heir to the Spanish
throne and son of Felipe II
(1556-1598), by his first wife and
cousin, Manuela de Portugal
(1528-1545).
This work idealizes the Prince's
face and body when, in fact, he was
born with grave physical and
psychological malformations that
may have been due to his parents'
inbreeding. Both his clothing —a
cape lined with lynx fur and a
yellow jerkin— and his frontal pose
help to disguise these
characteristics.
The figure of Jupiter and an eagle
carrying the column of Hercules are
visible through a window in the
background. These symbols of the
Hapsburg Dynasty clearly alluded to
the dynastic succession.
This work was cut down at some
point, which removed the artist's
signature. It is listed in the
inventory of the Alcázar Palace in
Madrid in 1636.
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