Philip IV of Spain
- Artist: Diego Velázquez
- Date: about 1656
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "Philip IV of Spain" by Diego Velázquez. Painted in about 1656, it's the last image of the King created by his court artist, who served him from 1623. You can see the weight of responsibility etched on Philip's face - he looks middle-aged and tired, with sagging flesh and puffy eyes.
The King's pale face stands out against the sombre black of his clothing and the plain background. He wears the Order of the Golden Fleece on a gold chain around his neck, which would have been instantly recognisable to seventeenth-century viewers. Velázquez's brushwork is free and loose, creating an impression of Philip rather than recording him in minute detail.
The portrait shows Philip with his distinctive upturned moustache and regular waves of hair framing his face. His eyes stare out steadily, commanding respect but also revealing a deeply human side. Many copies were made after this portrait, and it was even engraved for the frontispiece of a book about San Lorenzo el Real de El Escorial in 1657.
See it in person
Philip IV of Spain hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
