Artwork
Charles II
Charles II is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Carreño de Miranda. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction focuses on the royal identity and status of the sitter rather than a narrative scene, presenting the figure as the central authority.
The work is a formal portrait depicting Charles II of Spain, the monarch who serves as the main subject of the composition. Painted in 1673 by Juan Carreño de Miranda, the image captures the king in a state that includes the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece. This specific regalia functions as a key iconographic element, symbolizing the monarch's high rank and his role as a Grand Master of one of Europe's most prestigious chivalric orders.
The depiction focuses on the royal identity and status of the sitter rather than a narrative scene, presenting the figure as the central authority.
Technique & Style
Created in 1673, this portrait by Juan Carreño de Miranda is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 210 cm in height and 123 cm in width, presenting a full-length depiction of Charles II of Spain. Stylistically, the piece adheres to the conventions of court portraiture, capturing the monarch adorned with the insignia of the Golden Fleece. The medium and scale reflect the formal requirements of royal representation during the late seventeenth century.
History & Provenance
Juan Carreño de Miranda executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of Charles II of Spain in 1673. The work depicts the monarch wearing the insignia of the Golden Fleece. Measuring 210 cm by 123 cm, the painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado. It is currently housed within the Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer.
The work is held in the Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer, where it is recorded under inventory number P007100. It was displayed in the museum’s 1995 retrospective of Spanish Baroque portraiture and featured in the 2003 exhibition "Spanish Masters of the 17th Century" at the same institution.
Overview
Juan Carreño de Miranda’s oil portrait, executed in 1673, presents the young Charles II of Spain. The monarch is shown in formal attire, standing on a patterned floor beside a reflective mirror and a lion statue, his gaze directed outward with a solemn expression.
Artist & collection
