Artwork

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca, by Francisco de Goya, oil, 1792
José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca, by Francisco de Goya, oil, 1792

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francisco de Goya. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Francisco Goya’s 1792 oil portrait presents José Moñino, the first Count of Floridablanca, in formal attire.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

His ceremonial dress is marked by a large sky-blue sash crossing his torso, and he wears the decorations of the Order of Charles III on his chest.

The painting is a portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca, depicted alone, standing, serious, and holding documents, with a relatively inexpressive face. The composition emphasizes his role as a statesman at the height of his power as First Secretary of State.

His ceremonial dress is marked by a large sky-blue sash crossing his torso, and he wears the decorations of the Order of Charles III on his chest. These regalia function as iconographic markers of his rank, royal favor, and membership in one of Spain's principal chivalric orders.

The documents in his hand allude to his administrative and political authority, while the absence of companion figures, unlike Goya's paired portrait of the same year, isolates him as a singular embodiment of statecraft, presenting him as a serious, almost austere figure of office rather than personal warmth.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 196 cm in height and 116.5 cm in width. It depicts José Moñino y Redondo, 1st Count of Floridablanca, a man adorned with the Order of Charles III, and was created in 1783. The work belongs to the portrait genre and is housed in the Museo del Prado.

In this painting, the Count is shown alone, standing solemnly with documents in hand, wearing court attire marked by a sky-blue sash across his chest and the decorations of the Order of Charles III displayed on his chest. This formal and restrained representation emphasizes his status and authority.

History & Provenance

The portrait of José Moñino y Redondo, Count of Floridablanca, was painted by Francisco Goya in 1783, the same year the sitter reached the height of his political power as Spain's first Secretary of State. According to the French-language source, Goya executed the work while Floridablanca was at the summit of his influence, having risen from his earlier posting as ambassador to Rome to lead Spanish state affairs for the following fifteen years.

The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains located. No details about a specific commissioner, prior owner, or intermediate ownership transfers are documented in the available sources, and the work's inception is recorded simply as 1783 without further elaboration on its creation circumstances.

Overview

Francisco Goya’s 1792 oil portrait presents José Moñino, the first Count of Floridablanca, in formal attire. Executed on canvas, the work is part of the Prado Museum’s collection and reflects the Rococo aesthetic prevalent in late‑18th‑century Spanish portraiture.

Context

At the time of its execution, Floridablanca served as chief minister to King Charles IV, and the Order of Charles III was a newly instituted honor recognizing service to the crown. Goya’s portrait thus functions both as a personal likeness and as a visual record of political authority in pre‑Napoleonic Spain.

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

Portrait of Francisco de Goya

Artist

Francisco de Goya

Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca was painted by Francisco de Goya in 1783-01-01.

Where can I see José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca?

José Moñino y Redondo, count de Floridablanca is associated with Rococo painting.