Artwork
Philip V
Philip V is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Miguel Jacinto Meléndez. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These emblems underscore the sitter's political legitimacy and his role as a monarch asserting dynastic continuity after the War of the Spanish Succession.
The portrait shows Philip V of Spain wearing the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit and the Golden Fleece, symbols of his royal authority and membership in elite chivalric orders. These emblems underscore the sitter's political legitimacy and his role as a monarch asserting dynastic continuity after the War of the Spanish Succession. The work therefore conveys both personal portraiture and broader assertions of power within the Spanish Habsburg tradition.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, forming a formal portrait that captures Philip V of Spain adorned with symbols of the Order of the Holy Spirit and the Golden Fleece. The composition emphasizes regal authority through restrained brushwork and a muted palette, reflecting early 18th-century courtly portraiture. The surface condition appears stable, though minor craquelure is visible across the canvas, consistent with the painting's age.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Philip V was created in 1720 by the artist Miguel Jacinto Meléndez. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 82 cm in height and 62 cm in width. The painting depicts the Spanish monarch adorned with the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit and the Golden Fleece.
It is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is cataloged under the inventory number P007603.
Overview
Created in 1720 by Spanish court painter Miguel Jacinto Meléndez, this oil on canvas presents King Philip V of Spain in formal regalia. The work resides in Madrid’s Museo del Prado and exemplifies early‑18th‑century royal portraiture, combining a restrained pose with symbolic insignia that signal the monarch’s status and honors.
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Artist & collection
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