Artwork
Agustín Esteban Collantes
Agustín Esteban Collantes is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Agustín Esteban Collantes, a Spanish political figure, rendered in the conventions of mid-nineteenth-century official portraiture.
The portrait depicts Agustín Esteban Collantes, a Spanish political figure, rendered in the conventions of mid-nineteenth-century official portraiture. The composition centers on the sitter together with a document and two Spanish royal decorations: the Order of Christ and the Order of Charles III. These attributes function as iconographic markers of state service and royal favor, signaling the subject's status, honors, and administrative role rather than serving as decorative accessories.
The inclusion of the chivalric orders transforms the work from a likeness into a statement of public identity, while the document likely alludes to official duties or appointments held by Collantes. Held in the Museo del Prado, the painting thus represents both the individual and his position within the institutional and honorific structures of nineteenth-century Spain.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1855, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 130 cm in height and 94.5 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the composition highlights specific insignia, depicting the subject adorned with the crosses of the Order of Christ and the Order of Charles III.
The painting also includes a document as a depicted element within the scene. These material and iconographic choices align with the conventions of mid-19th-century portraiture held in major collections.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Agustín Esteban Collantes was painted by Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz in 1855. The work is executed in oil on canvas and measures 130 × 94.5 cm. It is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. The painting depicts Collantes with documents and insignia, including references to the Order of Christ and the Order of Charles III.
The portrait of Agustín Esteban Collantes is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Painted in 1855, the oil on canvas work measures 130 cm in height and 94.5 cm in width. The subject is depicted wearing the insignia of the Order of Christ and the Order of Charles III, while holding a document.
The provided sources confirm the painting's location and physical attributes but do not list a specific inventory number or detail any past exhibitions.
Overview
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz painted this oil portrait in 1855. The canvas presents Agustín Esteban Collantes in a formal military dress, surrounded by a muted green wall and a modest window. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection, where it remains on display as an example of mid‑nineteenth‑century Spanish portraiture.
Context
The inclusion of the Orders of Charles III and Christ situates Collantes within the honors system of the Spanish monarchy, indicating recognition for service to the crown. Portraits of this type were commonly commissioned to commemorate official appointments or to affirm loyalty to the ruling regime during a period of political consolidation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz (1815–1894) was an artist, born in Spain.
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