On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P04625
- Author
- Rosales Gallina, Eduardo (Spanish)
- Title
- Queen Isabel la Católica dictating her last Will and Testament
- Chronology
- 1864
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 290 cm x 400 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COMPRA
- Procedence
- Acquisition, 1865
Rosales depicts the moment when the
Catholic Queen dictates her last
will and testament at Medina del
Campo on 12 October 1504, just days
before she died. Isabel stands out
in a royal chamber almost in
darkness, in a canopy bed, with a
medal of the Order of Saint James
on her bosom. The white sheets
contrast with the muted colors of
the other personages. The only note
of color is the red robe of a
grieving King Fernando, whose
daughter, Juana, is at his side.
Cisneros, in his Cardinal's
clothing, is recognizable among the
other figures.
This work was painted by Rosales
during his stay in Rome. Following
a profound reflection as to the
best historical subject to depict,
he made one of the finest
historical works in all of Spanish
painting. It recalls the
atmospheric realism of Velasquez's
works, giving the setting a rather
vaporous aspect. The confident
lines, the quality of the textures,
and the perfect composition —with
the brightly lit queen as the
work's main point— show the degree
of pictorial commitment attained by
Rosales in this work.
It was acquired on 22 February 1865
and later moved to the Museum of
Modern Art.
Location on the map
