Who painted Charles IV in Red?

Charles IV in Red was painted by Francisco de Goya in 1789-01-01.

Where can I see Charles IV in Red?

Charles IV in Red is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Charles IV in Red?

Charles IV in Red is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Charles IV in Red?

Museum-quality prints of Charles IV in Red are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Charles IV in Red by Francisco de Goya (1789)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition uses a deep black background and voluminous green drapery to isolate the central figure, who appears cheerful yet seemingly disinterested.

The painting depicts Charles IV of Spain, portrayed in a three-quarter view at his actual size during his 1789 proclamation. The monarch is shown wearing a red velvet court suit with silver embroidery, lace cuffs, and a cravat. His attire is adorned with the insignia of three major orders: the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the sash of the Order of Saint Januarius, and the sash of the Order of the Holy Spirit.

To the left, symbols of royal authority are visible, specifically the crown and an ermine mantle. The composition uses a deep black background and voluminous green drapery to isolate the central figure, who appears cheerful yet seemingly disinterested. This work functions as a formal state portrait celebrating the new king's accession while highlighting his lineage and chivalric honors.

Technique & Style

Created in 1789, Charles IV in Red is an oil painting executed on canvas. The work measures 127.3 cm in height and 94.3 cm in width. Stylistically, the portrait is characterized by firm brushstrokes that recall the portraiture of Velázquez, employing a naturalistic approach to depict the monarch.

The composition features the king in three-quarter view, dressed in a red velvet court suit with silver embroidery, lace cuffs, and a cravat, while adorned with the collars and sashes of the Orders of the Golden Fleece, Saint Januarius, and the Holy Spirit. The background is structured by a deep black upper and lower section that frames a voluminous green curtain in the center, effectively highlighting the figure. To the left, royal symbols including the crown and an ermine mantle are visible.

History & Provenance

The painting Charles IV in Red is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It was created in 1789 to commemorate the proclamation of Charles IV, who subsequently appointed the artist as court painter. The work forms a pair with a portrait of Queen Maria Luisa of Parma, which is also housed in the museum.

In the same year, Goya produced a slightly larger copy of the composition for the Royal Academy of History, where that version remains. The primary canvas depicts the monarch in a red velvet court costume adorned with the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and sashes of the Orders of Saint Januarius and the Holy Spirit.

Context

The painting was commissioned to commemorate the coronation of Charles IV in 1789, reflecting the monarch's patronage of Goya, who had previously received numerous tapestry commissions for royal palaces and was appointed court painter following the king's accession. It depicts Charles IV in full court attire, featuring a red velvet jacket with elaborate silver embroidery, lace trim, and insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Order of San Januarius, and Order of the Holy Spirit, alongside symbols of royalty such as the crown and ermine mantle; the composition uses a green curtain backdrop to emphasize the figure, with a stylistic approach noted for its firm brushwork reminiscent of Velázquez and naturalistic rendering. A larger replica, painted the same year for the Royal Academy of History, further underscores the work's significance within Goya's output and royal patronage context.

Scholarship situates the piece as a key example of Goya's court portraiture, with comparative analyses highlighting its stylistic ties to earlier Spanish masters and its role in documenting the political and cultural milieu of late 18th-century Spain.

Overview

Francisco Goya painted Charles IV in Red in 1795, presenting the Spanish monarch in a formal oil portrait. The canvas is part of the Prado Museum’s collection, illustrating Goya’s early work during the late‑Rococo period.