Reception, Uses and Functions of the Monarchical Portrait in the Proclamation and Oath Ceremonies in 18th Century Spain

Abstract

This article studies the uses and functions of the portraits that represented the Hispanic monarchs during the proclamation and oath ceremonies held in the 18th century in Spain, and the responses that these images elicited from the public. Different written and visual sources are analyzed: the Relaciones de sucesos, which narrate the events that took place during the celebrations, and images (paintings and engravings) of the festivities. The Baroque festival has been analyzed in various lines of research, but we consider that the interaction between the participants and the royal images has not yet been thoroughly explored. We will therefore follow not only the primary focus of studies of these celebrations, but also the ideas of David Freedberg, Louis Marin and Ernst H. Kantorowicz.