Artwork
Alfonso XI
Alfonso XI is an oil painting by the Realist artist Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Together, these elements construct an image of sovereign power, combining the trappings of state rule with the attributes of martial command.
Painted in 1849 by Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan, this oil on canvas portrays King Alfonso XI seated upon a throne. The iconography emphasizes royal authority through specific regalia, including a crown, sceptre, and royal mantle draped over the figure. The monarch is further characterized by the presence of a sword and body armor, symbols that likely allude to his military leadership and status as a warrior king.
Together, these elements construct an image of sovereign power, combining the trappings of state rule with the attributes of martial command.
Technique & Style
Alfonso XI is an oil painting on canvas executed by Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan in 1849. The work is a portrait-format canvas measuring 225 cm in height by 140 cm in width, held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Its subject is rendered through regalia associated with royal authority, including body armor, a sword, a throne, a crown, a sceptre, and a royal mantle, indicating a formal, ceremonial mode of presentation.
History & Provenance
The painting of Alfonso XI was created by Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan in 1849, executed in oil on canvas. It depicts the monarch in royal regalia, including body armor, a sword, a throne, a crown, a sceptre, and a royal mantle. The work is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains located.
The sources do not provide further details regarding the original commissioner, the circumstances of its creation, or the chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum.
Context
Alfonso XI is an 1849 oil on canvas historical painting by Spanish artist Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan. The work, classified as a painting, portrays the medieval monarch in royal regalia including armor, sword, crown and sceptre, and is part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid. Its large dimensions (225 cm × 140 cm) and iconography reflect 19th-century Spanish academic interest in medieval sovereignty, situating the piece within the broader trajectory of Spanish historical art.
Overview
Alfonso XI is an oil painting created in 1849 by Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan. This work portrays the historical monarch Alfonso XI, presented in a formal, regal manner. The painting is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado, where it serves as an example of 19th-century historical portraiture. It captures the king in an elaborate setting, emphasizing his authority and status through symbolic elements.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan
Francisco Cerdá de Villarestan (1814–1881) was an artist, born in Barcelona.
