The apotheosis of the Spanish monarchy

Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista (1696-1770)

Item type:

painting

Date of creation:

1760s

Height:

81.6 cm  (32 1/8 in.)

Width:

66.4 cm  (26 1/8 in.)

Technique / Medium:

oil on canvas

Description

In the center a female figure between two lions representing the allegory of the Spanish monarchy (the lions are probably symbols of the province of Lyon); below her Neptune bearing the treasure of the sea, and the personification of Europe (with the attributes of a horse and a temple), and a group of various gods and allegorical figures (Jupiter with Aeolus, Victory, Bacchus, and Mercury bringing the royal crown to Spain), among them one winged figure blowing natural trumpet (left side, possibly representing Fama), below the allegory of the Spanish monarchy an old women and a tower (both symbolizing the Old Castile); in the group below the castle are Venus, Mars, and Saturn; at the bottom of the left side is Hercules (mythological protector of Spain) with a column (symbolizing Gibraltar), a female figure with an elephant's trunk (representing Africa), and low male figures, obviously Native Americans.

Iconclass

44B01
monarchy; 'Monarchia mondana' (Ripa)

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Natural trumpet [4419]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 2

RIdIM record id

3777