On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00644
- Author
- Carreño de Miranda, Juan (Spanish)
- Title
- Queen Mariana of Austria
- Chronology
- 1670
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 211 cm x 125 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCIONREAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Wearing a widow's headdress, the
second wife of Felipe IV, who had
died in 1665, is seated at a
writing desk on which paper, a pen
and an inkwell are visible. The
paintings and mirrors in the
background indicate that she is in
the Hall of Mirrors at Madrid's
former Alcázar Palace.
This portrait alludes to the
queen's status as widow and reagent
of the monarchy, charged with the
affairs of state. The curtain and
certain other elements follow the
tradition of baroque court
portraits, but the seated position
is contrary to traditional
portraiture models in which the
woman is shown standing and holding
a handkerchief or fan. Carreño thus
achieves an image of the queen as
less friendly but more efficient.
The painting was made around the
same time that he was appointed
Royal Painter.
This work comes from El Escorial
and entered the Museum in
1845.
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