Charles II presided over an auto de fe held in Madrid on 30 June 1680, which began with the royal oath to defend the Catholic faith and persecute heretics and apostates. In Spain, the Inquisition began in Aragon and the Catholic Monarchs established it for all the kingdoms in the 15th century. The Court did not usually hold “autos de fe” (acts of faith). In fact, the last one was held in 1632, so the event had great solemnity, as can be seen in Rizi’s work of 1683. What it represents is described in a work by José del Olmo, who was also a relative of the Holy Office and a master builder in Madrid (responsible for construction in the town). The prisoners, on the other hand, could be penitentiary or relaxed. In the foreground we can see the soldiers of the faith and the donkeys that would take those condemned to death to the outskirts of the city to be executed by the secular justice system. Among this group of soldiers, in the lower central part of the painting, is one of them with a large drum, which was widely used in this type of ceremony.
Collection: Images
Project: 10. Churches and religions in Europe., 3. Rural world and urban world in the formation of the European identity., 7. Persecuted by justice and powers: rebels, political dissidents and criminals in the history of Europe.
Chronology: XVII
Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University
Resource type: Image
Format: Oil on canvas (277 x 438 cm)
Source: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Language: Spanish
Date: 1683
Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)
Identifier: P001126
Copyright: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Abstract: Trial of the Inquisition held in the Madrid of Charles II, conducted by Francisco de Rizi
Image
Tags
