Artwork
Infant Ferdinand von Spanien
Infant Ferdinand von Spanien is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Alonso Sánchez Coello. It dates from 1559 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Infant Ferdinand von Spanien is a 1559 portrait by Alonso Sánchez Coello, court painter to Philip II of Spain. The work depicts a young boy, presumably the infant Ferdinand, in elaborate attire, conveying nobility and potential leadership.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, dressed in ornate, gold-buttoned clothing with a sword, embodies youthful nobility. Background armor suggests training for future leadership, underscoring the portrait's symbolic intent beyond mere likeness.
Technique & Style
Coello's style blends Flemish portraiture's objectivity with Venetian painting's sensuality, resulting in a refined, expressive mannerist portrait. The contrast between the boy's solemn expression and opulent attire highlights this blend.
History & Provenance
Created in 1559 for the Spanish royal court, the painting is now part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection, reflecting its historical significance and artistic value.
Context
As a court painter, Coello's work was influenced by the artistic exchange between Flemish and Italian styles prevalent in 16th-century Spain, catering to the Habsburg dynasty's cultural preferences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alonso Sánchez Coello (c. 1531 – 8 August 1588) was an Iberian portrait painter of the Spanish and Portuguese Renaissance. He is mainly known for his portrait paintings executed in a style which combines the objectivity…
Infant Ferdinand von Spanien (Werkstatt)
Kinderbildnis des Prinzen Carl von Toskana, Sohn des Großherzogs Ferdinand I.
El archiduque Leopoldo cuñado de Felipe III
Portrait of Philip Emmanuel of Savoy (1586-1605), age five
Philip of Asturias, later Philip III of Spain
Kinderbildnis des Prinzen Ferdinand II. von Toskana, Sohn des Großherzogs Cosimo II.
Grand Duke Ferdinando II. (1610-1670) of Tuscany
Portrait of a Boy, thought to be Giovanni de' Medici (1543-1562)
Portrait of Ferdinand II of Habsburg (1578-1637, Holy Roman Emperor
Portrait of Matthias II of Habsburg (1557-1619), the future Holy Roman Emperor
Infant Diego von Spanien als Kind (Werkstatt)