The Court of Philip IV.: Spain in DecadenceHume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Philosophy
The Court of Philip IV.: Spain in Decadence
Hume, Martin A. S. (Martin Andrew Sharp)
Philip IV, King of Spain, 1605-1665; Spain -- Court and courtiers; Spain -- History -- Philip IV, 1621-1665
[18] Carl Justi. Presents of paintings were also sent from England.
Coke, for instance, sent, presumably from Charles I., a picture by
Horatio Gentileschi as a present to King Philip. It is extraordinary
to note in the correspondence of the English diplomatists at this
period the constant mention of the sending of pictures to Spain, and
vice versa, mostly for King Charles, but very often also for Lady
Cottington. In May 1633, Hopton writes to Cottington the following
reference to a painter sent to Madrid to copy pictures for Charles I.,
which I do not think has been noticed before. "The King's painter is
sending some pieces. He is a very well governed young man and a good
husband (_i.e._ a good manager of money), yet by reason of the
dearenesse of this place, and being willing to live in so handsome a
manner as a man sent by his Majesty, money goes away apace which I
cannot remedy, because I doe not see that he can; but I conceive his
Majesty will have a very good account of him, to whose service I
perceive he hath wholly disposed himself." A little later we are told
that "the King's painter hath fallen sick of a calenture, and grows
worse. I am out of a great deal of money by him." Lady Cottington and
others in England were constantly asking for Labrador's flower and
fruit pieces to be sent to them, and purchases and exchanges of
pictures are often spoken of for King Charles himself.
[19] The charming picture by Velazquez, here reproduced, represents the
little Prince at about the age of nine on his pony galloping near the
Pardo. There is another charming equestrian portrait of the Prince in
the Duke of Westminster's collection, with Olivares in the background.
[20] Hopton's MS. Notebook.
[21] Hopton's MS. Notebook.
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