Diego Velázquez: Equestrian Portrait of King Philip IV of Spain (1634-1635)

 (Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain)

A standard equestrian portrait, this time of Philip IV, king of Spain (1605-1665). This painting is a part a series of portraits for the Salón de Reinos at the palacio del Buen Retiro in Madrid. Philip IV is mostly remembered for his patronage of the arts and the political and military decline of Spain. Philip  never led any armies in battle so this painting of himself in armour is purely symbolic. This painting is from 1634-1635.