Artwork
The Empress Marta de Constantinople before Alfonso X. Ramón Bayeu and Subías
The Empress Marta de Constantinople before Alfonso X. Ramón Bayeu and Subías is a photography by the Romanticist artist Ramón Bayeu. It dates from 1766 and is held in the collection of the Ignacio Larramendi Foundation.
About this work
Overview
Ramón Bayeu’s 1766 canvas titled The Empress Marta de Constantinople before Alfonso X is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a staged encounter between a Byzantine empress and the Spanish monarch, rendered in a lively, theatrical composition.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the scene stands a woman in a blue and gold costume, clutching a red drapery, identified as Empress Marta of Constantinople. She is surrounded by courtiers whose gestures, pointing, whispering, and startled expressions, suggest a narrative moment of diplomatic tension or ceremonial presentation before King Alfonso X.
Technique & Style
Bayeu employs a palette of bright hues contrasted with soft chiaroscuro, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence. The brushwork is smooth, especially in the rendering of fabrics, while the architectural backdrop, with its columned façade, is outlined with crisp linear detail, creating a clear spatial setting.
History & Provenance
The painting was completed in 1766 and later entered the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display. No further ownership changes are recorded in the available documentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ramón Bayeu y Subías (2 December 1744, Zaragoza – 1 March 1793, Aranjuez) was a Spanish Neoclassicist painter; known primarily for his work in tapestry design.
