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Diego Velázquez, 'Philip IV of Spain', about 1656

About the work

Overview

Velázquez painted many portraits of Philip IV, King of Spain, throughout his reign. This is the last painted image of the King by the man who served as his court artist from 1623. He looks middle-aged, and tired: his sagging flesh and puffy eyes suggest the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders during his long reign (1621–65). As in many of Velázquez’s portraits, Philip sports his distinctive upturned moustache.

The King’s pale face stands out against the sombre black of his clothing and the plain background. He wears the Order of the Golden Fleece, a chivalric order whose pendant took the form of a suspended sheepskin, on a gold chain. The regular waves of Philip’s hair frame his face and rest neatly on his collar. He stares out steadily with a look that commands respect but is also intensely human.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Philip IV of Spain
Artist dates
1599 - 1660
Date made
about 1656
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
64.1 × 53.7 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1865
Inventory number
NG745
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
17th-century Spanish Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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