Philip Prospero

Velázquez’s portrait of the much longed-for crown prince - his names are chosen to align him with his royal Spanish ancestry and to forecast a prosperous future - is probably painted in 1659, a year before his death.

Philip is born in Madrid on December 28, 1657 and as the Spanish crown prince he goes by the title Prince of Asturias. Though there is nothing official about the painting – it has far less pomp than that of half-brother Balthasar Charles or sister Margaret Theresa - it does remain within the tradition of court portraiture with the drapery, chair, carpet, dog, hat and view of the room behind.

Philip Prospero is 2 years old when the painting is created and the work is the only image we have of him.