Antonio Arias Fernández: Portrait of Charles V and Philip II (1639-40)

(Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain)

A painting by the Spanish artist Antonio Arias Fernández (1614-1684). This piece comes from the Golden Hall at the Alcázar in Madrid. It is part of a series which was commissioned to depict the kings of Castilia up to the reigning king Philip IV of Spain. The whole set makes the line of succession visible and shows the monarch´s dynastic ties. Shown here on the left is Charles V (1500 – 1558) - Holy Roman emperor, king of Spain and Lord of the Netherlands. On the right is his son king Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) - he is resting his right hand on a globe that symbolizes the planetary extent of his possessions. Painting from 1639-1640.