Spanish school; second half of the 19th century.

Spanish school; second half of the 19th century. "Velázquez scene, possible portrait of Philip IV with Queen Mariana and a cardinal". Oil on canvas. It presents jumps, broken and precise cleanliness. Measurements: 38,5 x 31 cm. Scene of interior that represents two characters, placed in the centre of the composition. By their clothes, and the features that can be appreciated, it is probable that it is the representation of Philip IV and his consort the Queen Mariana of Austria, who at first had been promised to her cousin the prince of Asturias, Baltasar Carlos, but after his premature death in 1646, she married the king Philip IV of Spain, her uncle, to assure her masculine descendants. The outstanding feature of this work is that both monarchs are portrayed together. In monarchical portraiture it is usual for each of the consorts to be depicted in a different scene. Furthermore, in this case it can be seen that the protagonists join hands in a gesture of intimacy. This is a feature that was not common in the tradition of family portraits of the nobility. The arrangement of the work is largely reminiscent of the joint portrait of Charles IV and Marina of Austria, which is reflected in the mirror of Velázquez's famous painting, Las Meninas. However, in this particular case, the entire effigy of both protagonists can be seen, as well as the presence of a religious figure on the right next to a chair.