Artwork
Alfonso XIII
Alfonso XIII is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Philip de László. It dates from 1927 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in Madrid in 1927, the painting functions as a formal representation of the Spanish monarch, executed in oil paint on canvas board.
The work is a portrait depicting Alfonso XIII as its sole main subject. Created in Madrid in 1927, the painting functions as a formal representation of the Spanish monarch, executed in oil paint on canvas board. The iconography is straightforward, focusing entirely on the likeness of the king without additional allegorical elements or complex symbolism described in the available records.
As a genre portrait held by the Museo del Prado, the piece serves primarily as a documentary likeness of the ruler during the late 1920s.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil paint on a canvas board measuring 64 cm by 47 cm, completed in 1927 while the sitter was in Madrid.
The handling emphasizes naturalistic modeling, with carefully blended transitions in flesh tones and subdued lighting that articulates the facial planes and costume details. The composition centers on a three-quarter view of the sitter, framed by a dark background that directs attention to the face and the star of the Order of the Golden Fleece worn at the throat.
History & Provenance
Philip de László executed this oil portrait of Alfonso XIII in 1927. The artist created the work in Madrid, applying oil paint to a canvas board support. Upon completion, the painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains housed. The work depicts the Spanish monarch as its primary subject.
The portrait of Alfonso XIII by Philip de László is held by the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it forms part of the museum's collection. Painted in 1927, the work is executed in oil on canvas board and measures 64 by 47 cm. It was produced in Madrid, the Spanish capital where the sitter reigned as king.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available documentation, and no exhibition history beyond its inclusion in the Prado's holdings is documented.
Overview
Philip de László’s 1927 oil portrait depicts King Alfonso XIII of Spain in a restrained, profile view. The canvas, now part of the Museo del Prado collection, presents the monarch against a dark, unadorned backdrop that concentrates attention on his facial features and attire.
Context
De László, an Anglo‑Hungarian artist honored with the Royal Victorian Order and Austrian noble titles, was renowned for his ability to capture the likenesses of European aristocracy. This painting aligns with his broader oeuvre of formal yet approachable royal portraits.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Philip Alexius László de Lombos (born Fülöp Laub; Hungarian: László Fülöp Elek; 30 April 1869 – 22 November 1937), known professionally as Philip de László, was an Anglo-Hungarian painter known particularly for his…
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