Artwork

Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, first Count of Castelblanco

Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, first Count of Castelblanco is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Jean-Baptiste Oudou’s 1716 oil portrait presents Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, the inaugural Count of Castelblanco.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

This 1716 oil painting functions as a formal portrait of Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, the first Count of Castelblanco.

This 1716 oil painting functions as a formal portrait of Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, the first Count of Castelblanco. The composition centers entirely on the sitter, presenting him as the sole main subject of the work. A defining element of the iconography is the inclusion of body armor, which the figure wears during the sitting.

This martial attire likely serves to symbolize the Count's military status, rank, or role within the nobility, distinguishing the representation from civilian portraiture. By combining the likeness of the specific aristocrat with the visual language of warfare, the artwork represents the subject's identity through the lens of his service and social standing.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 137 × 105 cm. The work depicts José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva in body armor, a conventional choice for formal noble portraiture of the period that emphasizes the sitter's military status and social standing. As a portrait by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, the painting reflects the French academic tradition, with careful attention to the rendering of textures and materials. The armor would have provided an opportunity for the artist to demonstrate technical skill in depicting metallic surfaces and reflective qualities.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted in 1716 by Jean-Baptiste Oudry for José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, first Count of Castelblanco. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display. The work measures 137 cm in height and 105 cm in width and depicts the sitter in body armor.

The portrait of Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, first Count of Castelblanco, by Jean-Baptiste Oudry is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, as recorded in the work's Wikidata entry. The painting, executed in oil on canvas in 1716, forms part of the museum's holdings of Oudry's portraiture.

No specific inventory or accession number is documented in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its placement in the Museo del Prado collection is recorded.

Overview

Jean-Baptiste Oudou’s 1716 oil portrait presents Don José de Rozas y Meléndez de la Cueva, the inaugural Count of Castelblanco. The work, now in the Museo del Prado, captures the nobleman in an elaborate red coat, a powdered white wig, and a suit of polished armor, set against a dim, indistinct landscape that recedes into shadow.

Context

The painting belongs to a period when French artists like Oudou were frequently engaged by Spanish patrons, blending French Rococo sensibilities with Spanish aristocratic iconography. The portrait’s emphasis on elaborate dress and martial equipment aligns with contemporary conventions that linked noble identity to both courtly elegance and military service.

Portrait of Hendrik Lijnslager, Sea Captain with the Admiralty of Amsterdam, Unknown

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Jean-Baptiste Oudry

Jean-Baptiste Oudry was a French Rococo painter, engraver, and tapestry designer. He is particularly well known for his naturalistic pictures of animals and his hunt pieces depicting game. His son, Jacques-Charles Oudry, was also a painter.