Spanish School C.1620 - King Philip II Of Spain (1527-1598).

Miniature portrait of King Philip II of Spain wearing a dark doublet, lined and edged with white fur. Watercolor on vellum Oval, 12 x 9 cm Framed: 17 cm x 13 cm This beautiful early miniature portrait of King Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) is a version of a now-lost contemporary original portrait. This original portrait is mentioned in several contemporary documents; they describe a portrait painted by Titian of Philip wearing "the blue coat with the white wolfskin," sent by Mary of Hungary to Mary Tudor in England in 1553. Mary I wrote to Charles V to report that she had received the portrait. Upon Philip's arrival in England in July 1554, the portrait should have been returned to Mary of Hungary, but its subsequent history is obscure. This copy may have been made when the original portrait belonged to Mary of Hungary. Philip II ruled the vast Spanish Empire from 1554 until his death in 1598. During this forty-four-year reign, Spain reached the height of its power and influence, with territories on every known continent. Described as having "a smile as sharp as a sword," Philip was known for his piety and suspicion, as well as his icy self-control.