Henry IV Receiving the Spanish Ambassador
1817 Musée des Beaux-Arts de la ville de Paris
About this artwork
An oil on canvas painting depicting the French King Henry IV playing with his children as the Spanish ambassador enters his chamber. The work highlights the king's private life in contrast to his public duties, a common theme in 19th-century history painting.
Did you know?
This painting represents the 'troubadour style,' a romanticized historical genre popular in 19th-century France that focused on anecdotes from the lives of great kings. Ingres humorously shows the mighty King Henry IV on his hands and knees, being ridden like a horse by his children, a stark departure from traditional, stoic portraits of monarchs. Interestingly, the small circular painting visible on the back wall is a reference to Raphael's 'Madonna della Seggiola,' signaling Ingres's profound admiration for the Renaissance master.
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Henry IV Receiving the Spanish Ambassador
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1817
