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The Family of Philip II of SpainZoom Select the image to zoom

The Family of Philip II of Spain

1583-85
Anonymous Spanish
Oil on panel
50 x 80 cm

This panel represents Philip II with his children, Isabel Clara Eugenia, Catalina Micaela, and the future Philip III. The work reflects the style of official court portraits as well as the miniatures found in cartas ejecutorias. During the reign of Philip II, artists established the conventions for future Spanish Hapsburg imagery. Although the King and his supporters claimed that the monarch's power derived from God, these representations did not elaborate the point with an extensive allegorical framework or personifications. Instead, the King appears dressed simply, thereby underscoring that his authority resides in his person.

In paintings of Philip II, subtle details of costume and setting take on an understated significance. Here, these elements, particularly the insignias of the order of the Golden Fleece which Philip II and his son wear, quietly establish the royal family's prestige and rank. Depicted in court attire, Philip II would evoke a diligent monarch, attentive to his realm and the administration of justice. Furthermore, even in a small-scale painting such as this, intended perhaps for a more select audience of courtiers or the royal family, the King appears aloof and dignified, notwithstanding the company of his beloved children. The painting should therefore not be considered as an intimate family portrait but rather as a public image of a just monarch and the family who will carry on his legacy.