Artwork
La prisión de Lanuza
La prisión de Lanuza is an oil painting by the Realist artist Carlos Larraz y Micheto. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
La prisión de Lanuza is an oil on canvas executed in 1858 by Spanish painter Carlos Larraz y Micheto. The work measures a modest size and is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is displayed among 19th‑century historical paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays a group of men dressed in period attire, assembled on a staircase. Several figures are equipped with armor, spears and swords, suggesting a scene of confinement or martial preparation, consistent with the title’s reference to a prison.
Technique & Style
Larraz y Micheto employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated faces and weapons against deep shadows. This contrast enhances the spatial depth of the stairwell and lends a dramatic tension to the gathering of figures.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1850s, the painting entered the Prado’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s estate, with no recorded changes of ownership before its museum accession.
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