Philip II of Spain
1590
oil
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
1590
oil
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
This portrait depicts a man dressed in 16th-century attire, standing with his weight on his right leg. He wears a black and gold breastplate over a chainmail shirt, paired with white leggings and a red sash on his right arm. His left hand rests on a sword hilt, while his right hand grasps a long, gold-colored pole. The subject's gaze is directed slightly to the right of the viewer, and his dark hair is neatly trimmed. The background of the painting is a deep, rich black, which serves to accentuate the subject's features and attire. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures, is evident in this portrait. To learn more about the use of chiaroscuro in art, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
