Artwork

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco, oil
José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco, oil

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Bernardo Martínez del Barranco. It is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting is a portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, the Spanish statesman who served as chief minister under King Charles III.

The painting is a portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, the Spanish statesman who served as chief minister under King Charles III. The work belongs to the genre of portraiture, presenting the sitter as the principal subject.

Beyond the likeness of Floridablanca himself, the canvas also depicts the Order of Charles III, a Spanish royal order of chivalry founded by Charles III in 1771. Floridablanca was a prominent recipient of this honor, and its inclusion in the portrait functions as an iconographic marker of royal favor and his elevated status within the Spanish court. The combination of personal likeness with the insignia of the Order communicates the sitter's political authority, his close association with the Bourbon monarchy, and the prestige conferred by the crown.

Technique & Style

Created in 1786 by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco, this portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, is executed in oil paint on canvas. The work adheres to the conventions of the portrait genre, focusing on the depiction of the sitter alongside his association with the Order of Charles III. The physical support measures 35 cm in height and 27 cm in width.

Held within the collection of the Museo del Prado, the piece represents a formal representation of the subject using traditional oil painting techniques typical of the late 18th century.

History & Provenance

The portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, was painted by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco in 1786.

It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains today. The work is catalogued with dimensions of 35 cm in height and 27 cm in width, and is executed in oil on canvas.

Context

The portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, painted by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco in 1786, exemplifies late 18th-century Spanish aristocratic portraiture and reflects Enlightenment-era emphasis on documenting elite civic virtue. Its formal composition and restrained palette align with broader trends in Spanish court painting while subtly conveying the sitter’s political stature through symbolic elements like the Order of Charles III. The work’s presence in the Museo del Prado’s collection underscores its recognized significance within the narrative of Spanish art history, where it is frequently cited in scholarship on Goya’s contemporaries and the evolution of portraiture as a tool of state ideology.

Overview

Bernardo Martínez del Barranco painted an oil portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, the first Count of Floridablanca, in 1794. The work is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado and presents the statesman in a formal seated pose.

Martín Antonio Álvarez de Sotomayor y Soto-Flores, Count of Colomera
Martín Antonio Álvarez de Sotomayor y Soto-Flores, Count of Colomera, Agustín Esteve

Artist & collection

Museo del Prado

Museum

Museo del Prado

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museo del Prado open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca was painted by Bernardo Martínez del Barranco.

Where can I see José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca?

Museum-quality prints of José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.