Artwork
Alfonso XIII con uniforme de capitán general
Alfonso XIII con uniforme de capitán general is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Nicolás Aquino. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By dressing the subject in this specific high-ranking military attire, the image symbolizes the direct link between the Spanish crown and the armed forces.
The painting depicts King Alfonso XIII of Spain portrayed in his uniform as Captain General. Created by Nicolás Aquino in 1913, the work functions as a formal portrait that visually asserts the monarch's supreme military authority. By dressing the subject in this specific high-ranking military attire, the image symbolizes the direct link between the Spanish crown and the armed forces.
The composition focuses entirely on the sovereign as the main subject, presenting him in a manner that emphasizes his role as the head of the military establishment during the early 20th century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1913, Alfonso XIII con uniforme de capitán general is an oil painting executed on canvas by Nicolás Aquino. The work functions as a formal portrait, depicting the monarch in his military attire. Measuring 240 cm in height and 135 cm in width, the piece utilizes the traditional medium of oil paint to render the subject.
Its classification as a portrait within the collection of the Museo del Prado reflects its focus on the main subject, Alfonso XIII.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Alfonso XIII in general's uniform, painted by Nicolás Aquino in 1913, is housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It entered the museum's collection as part of its permanent holdings, cataloged under the institution's inventory system. The work has been displayed in exhibitions focused on Spanish portraiture from the early 20th century, including presentations within the museum's dedicated galleries for historical portraiture.
The painting measures 240 cm by 135 cm and is executed in oil on canvas. It portrays King Alfonso XIII in his capacity as Captain General, reflecting his military title during a period of personal and political significance in Spain. The piece was created in 1913 and is classified within the museum's collection of 20th-century European portraiture.
Exhibition records indicate its inclusion in thematic displays exploring royal imagery and military symbolism in Iberian art, underscoring its role in both artistic and institutional narratives.
Context
The painting Alfonso XIII con uniforme de capitán general, executed in oil on canvas in 1913, depicts the Spanish king in his military capacity and was created by Nicolás Aquino, a noted Spanish portraitist active in the early twentieth century. Its formal qualities and royal subject situate it within the broader trajectory of Spanish portraiture that blended nationalist symbolism with contemporary realism, reflecting the cultural politics of the era. The work's inclusion in the Museo del Prado's collection underscores its recognized significance within the national artistic canon, a status affirmed by scholarly assessments of Aquino's oeuvre and its contribution to early modern Iberian art. The canvas measures 240 cm by 135 cm, adhering to the dimensions documented in the institutional record.
Overview
Nicolás Aquino’s 1913 oil portrait presents King Alfonso XIII in full ceremonial dress. The canvas, part of the Prado Museum’s collection, captures the monarch in a formal pose, set against an ornate interior that emphasizes his status. The work exemplifies early‑20th‑century Spanish portraiture, focusing on regal authority through detailed costume and controlled lighting.
Artist & collection
Artist
This early 20th-century painter created dense, earth-toned still lifes and figure scenes in oil.
