The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 14, 2024

Portrait of Philip II, King of Spain

Portrait of Philip II, King of Spain

mid-1550s
(Italian, bef 1538-aft 1564)
Italy, 16th century
citrine, mounted in a gold and enamel pendant
Pendant: 4.3 x 2.8 x 0.9 cm (1 11/16 x 1 1/8 x 3/8 in.); Gem: 3.2 x 2.5 cm (1 1/4 x 1 in.)
By exchange: Bequests of Mrs. Severance A. Millikin and John L. Severance; Dudley P. Allen Fund; Gift of Carrie Moss Halle in memory of Salmon Portland Halle; Gift of S. Livingstone Mather, Constance Mather Bishop, Philip R. Mather, Katherine Hoyt Cross, 2012.53
Location: 118 Italian Renaissance

Did You Know?

The ancient Romans believed citrine, a type of quartz, offered protection against evil thoughts.

Description

Clad in armor, Philip II wears a chain with the Order of Golden Fleece around his neck. The remarkably precise and varied cutting describes the textures of cloth, metal, skin, and hair while presenting the king’s features with striking naturalism—complete with receding hairline and prominent chin—as well as conveying his forceful character. Carved gems were luxury arts of the highest order in the Renaissance, hotly collected and used as diplomatic gifts. The original patron is not yet known, but cameos played a prominent role at the Spanish court, where the royal family often hold gems of Philip II in their portraits. The yellow quartz, rare in the 1500s, probably came from a newly opened source in South America; this object is thus both a natural marvel and a masterful portrait. One of only three known works signed by the artist (his initials appear at miniscule scale on the collar just below the knot of cloth), this stone is also likely in its original setting.
  • 1550s
    Possibly King Philip II of Spain (1527-1598), possibly by gift to his godson Philip Howard
    1550s-1595
    Possibly Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel (1557-1595), by inheritance to his son Thomas Howard (1585-1646)
    1595-1646
    Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel (1585-1646), by inheritance to Henry Frederick Howard (1608-1652)
    1646-1652
    Henry Frederick Howard, Lord Maltravers (1608-1652), by descent to Herny Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk (1655-1701)
    1652-1700
    Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk (1655-1701), by settlement to his divorced Duchess Lady Mary Mordaunt (c. 1659-1705)
    1700-1705
    Duchess Lady Mary Mordaunt (c. 1659-1705), by inheritance to her second husband Sir John Germain (1650-1718)
    1705-1718
    Sir John Germain (1650-1718), by inheritance to his second wife Lady Elizabeth Germain (1680-1769)
    1718-1762
    Lady Elizabeth Germain (1680-1769), by gift to her great niece Lady Mary Beauclerc (1743-1812) on the occasion of her marriage to Lord Charles Spencer (1740-1820), brother of the 3rd duke of Marlborough
    1762-
    Lord Charles Spencer (1740-1820), by inheritance to Lady Mary Spencer, by family arrangement to her brother-in-law George Spencer (1739-1817)
    -1817
    George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough (1739-1817), by inheritance to George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840)
    1817-1840
    George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766-1840), by inheritance to George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (1793-1857)
    1840-1857
    George Spencer-Churchill, 6th Duke of Marlborough (1793-1857), by inheritance to John Winston Spencer-Churchill (1822-1883)
    1857-1875
    John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822-1883) (sold, Christie's, London, 1875, lot 587, to David Bromilow)
    1875-1899
    David Bromilow (sold, Christie's, London, June 26, 1899, lot 587 to Francis Whelan for £105)
    1899 - before 1930
    Francis Whelan
    Before 1930
    Spink and Sons
    Before 2008
    Private collection (sold Bonham's, London, December 2008, for £62,400 to Lowell Libson)
    2008-2012
    Lowell Libson and Thomas Heneage
    2012-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Boardman, John. The Marlborough Gems: Formerly at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Reproduced: p. 66. cat. # 84
    Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 53 no. 02, March/April 2013 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 19 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art. The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 180
  • {{cite web|title=Portrait of Philip II, King of Spain |url=false|author=Alessandro Cesati|year=mid-1550s |access-date=14 May 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2012.53