Spanish school; late eighteenth century. Lot n° 32

Spanish school; late eighteenth century. "Portrait of Charles IV. Oil on canvas. Relined. Presents repainting and restorations. Measurements: 79 x 62 cm. On a neutral background that monumentalizes the figure we can observe a portrait of long bust, where the main character is turned in three quarters. Only the clothing, with the band from which hangs the fleece, indicates that it is the representation of the effigy of the monarch Charles IV, since no other element appears in the composition as usual in the portraits of camera. It should be noted that since the sixteenth century, portraits of rulers became popular, not only commissioned with an intimate purpose, but with the intention of disseminating the figure of the monarch, both nationally and internationally. Charles IV was king of Spain and of the Spanish Empire from 1788 to 1808. The Spain inherited by Charles IV showed few signs of instability, but during his reign, Spain entered into a series of unprofitable alliances and his regime constantly sought cash to meet the demands of war. His son and heir Ferdinand, led the failed Conspiracy of El Escorial and subsequently forced Charles to abdicate after the Tumult of Aranjuez in 1808, along with the dismissal of his prime minister Manuel de Godoy. Summoned to Bayonne by Napoleon Bonaparte, who forced Ferdinand VII to abdicate, Charles IV also abdicated, paving the way for Napoleon to place his older brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne. However, the reign of Charles IV proved to be an important turning point in Spanish history.