On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01179
- Author
- Velázquez, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y (Spanish)
- Title
- Queen Isabel de Bourbon, wife of Felipe IV, on Horseback
- Chronology
- 1635-1636
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 301 cm x 314 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
An equestrian portrait of Isabel de
Bourbon (1602-1644). Daughter of
Henri IV of France and Maria de
Médicis, she was the wife of Felipe
IV (1605-1665). She is sumptuously
dressed with a ruff collar, a
walnut skirt with golden relief
embroidery, and a white bodice with
embroidered with silver
stars.
The horse's extremely elegant and
realistic head, and the highly
expressive head of the queen are
especially important here. They
constitute examples of Velasquez's
finest art. His rapid and decisive
technique contrasts with the
meticulous rendering of the
clothing and of the horse's
blanket, which may be by another
hand.
This painting hung on one of the
smaller sides of the Hall of
Kingdoms at Madrid's Buen Retiro
Palace, where it was paired with
Felipe IV on Horseback (P1178). It
is listed in the inventories of
Madrid's Royal Palace from 1734 to
1814 and entered the Prado Museum
collection in 1819.
Location on the map
