Heroism of the City of Santander
Ca. 1816. Charcoal on paper.Not on display
Having cropped the picture to fit the dimensions provided by Santander City Council, Madrazo significantly diluted the initial monumental approach. He also introduced the figure of Bishop Rafael Menéndez de Luarca, regent of Cantabria, in order to visually emphasise his loyalty to Ferdinand VII. The positioning of the City Hall’s arches in the background, like the gestures of the figures, directly echo David’s aesthetic, though placed here at the service of ideals which he would find inimical.
