Madrid, Spain; October 2008
I stumbled across his pair of oil paintings upstairs at the famous Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain.
It was quite a contrast immediately after perusing the rooms full of Spanish royal portraits, mainly by Velazquez. There was quite a striking family resemblance between fathers, sons, grandsons and brothers and also sisters – all pale, blond, with pointy faces. They were in fact a branch of the Habsburgs and apparently quite inbred.
And then came this.
I can’t find any information online about the painting, either via Google or on the Prado site. And frustratingly I don’t have notes on this painting in my travel journal. I believe it’s from the Spanish Habsburg era of 1516 to 1700.
If memory serves me correctly, these paintings are of a princess and it is rather cruelly titled “La Monstrosa” (the monster). She was one of the few royals who was painted naked as well as clothed – clearly the painter was fascinated by her flesh.
If anyone has more information about La Monstrosa, then please let me know in the comments field.
This post is part of Photo Friday, a weekly blogging event hosted by Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby. Please check out the other submissions this week.
Related posts: Photo Friday: Catholic taste
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Very fascinating! Is the nude figure supposed to be the princess portrayed as a mythological figure and/or cherub? That’s often how they got away with nude paintings in those days…by saying it’s “Prince So-and-So as Bacchus” or something along those lines.
Possibly but I don’t recall the signs saying so. There are also no attributes, bar the fig leaf. – Caitlin.
Not a kind name, but not the princess’ best look either.
Hmm…I think I remember seeing these two portraits while shoving past the swarms of trigger happy tourists with their giant Nikon cameras to see Carvaggio’s David Victorious Over Goliath.
Nicely rounded girl isn’t she? Horrible name but I can see why they did this if she was sizeable back then (and different looking).
You have got me thinking now.
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Awesome!! I have a Prado guidebook at home. Wonder if it’s there? Probably not…I don’t remember actually seeing this in the museum nor in the book
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I’d love to know if it’s mentioned in the book! Do let me know. – Caitlin.
I think remember this from the audio guide. We’re unpacking boxes from our travels at the moment. I might even come across the Prado musuem map. I’ll have a look for you if I do.
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Oh dear, she does rather break the mould of Spanish beauties doesn’t she – seems a bit unlikely for a princess to be painted naked though especially a young girl
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I think she is one of the dwarfs who were in attendance at the Spanish Court. There were quite a few, both male & female & were often painted with the members of the royal family. Many royal courts in Europe kept them as curiosities…..a very strange concept to us but they were treated very well & often were given important personal posts close to the royalty they served.
What an interesting theory! You might be on to something there. I didn’t know about the dwarves. – Caitlin.
I think she was not a royalty…according to to my vague recollection of the Prado audio guide, she was a civilian girl who had acquired some sort of fame for being so young (6? 8?) and so obese. She was therefore brought to the Spanish Court to be painted – very much as an object of curiosity (note that in the clothed version, she was seen holding food in both her hands!).
You may be right – I am by no means certain of my recollection. I wish I knew! – Caitlin.
I seem to remember that the girl suffered from Turners syndrome, hence the short arms and legs, the body weight etc. It doesn’t explain her foul mood, though…