Artwork
El infante Carlos María Isidro de Borbón
El infante Carlos María Isidro de Borbón is an oil painting by Vicente López Portaña. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, a Spanish infante, rendered in the formal tradition of court portraiture by Vicente López Portaña in 1823.
The portrait depicts Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, a Spanish infante, rendered in the formal tradition of court portraiture by Vicente López Portaña in 1823. The subject is shown bearing the insignia of two of the most prestigious orders associated with the Spanish crown: the Order of Charles III and the Golden Fleece. These regalia function as the principal iconographic markers of the work, signaling the sitter's royal lineage and his standing within the European dynastic honors system.
By pairing the Bourbon-founded Order of Charles III with the dynastically significant Golden Fleece, the painting asserts Carlos María Isidro's legitimacy and proximity to the throne, framing him as a custodian of monarchical tradition during a politically turbulent period in Spain.
Technique & Style
The portrait was executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for formal portraiture in early nineteenth-century Spain. The composition emphasizes the sitter’s dignified posture and richly detailed attire, reflecting the formal conventions of aristocratic representation. Subtle handling of light and texture conveys a polished finish characteristic of academic portraiture.
History & Provenance
El infante Carlos María Isidro de Borbón is an oil on canvas portrait painted in 1823 by Vicente López Portaña. The work was created as a formal portrait of the Spanish Infante and is presently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on public view. Its dimensions are 58 cm in height by 44.5 cm in width.
The portrait is held in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, with accession number P004352.
It was included in the exhibition López Portaña (1772–1850). La mirada de un siglo held at the Museo del Prado from 21 November 2006 to 11 March 2007.
Overview
El infante Carlos María Isidro de Borbón is a portrait painted in oil by Vicente López Portaña in 1823. It is part of the Museo del Prado's collection in Madrid.
Context
As a leading Spanish portrait painter of the early 19th century, López Portaña's work reflects the artistic conventions and the cultural values of his time, emphasizing formal representation and attention to detail.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vicente López Portaña (Spanish:; 19 September 1772 – 22 July 1850) was a Spanish painter, considered one of the best portrait painters of his time.
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