The Hall of Kingdoms

The Salón de Reinos was one of the most important parts of the Buen Retiro Palace, built by order of the Count Duke of Olivares between 1630 and 1635. It owes its name to the representation of the coats of arms painted on the vault of the 24 kingdoms that made up the Hispanic Monarchy at the time of Philip IV. This space was conceived, around 1630, as a box from which the kings could attend the theatrical performances that were held in the courtyard, where the room continued to fulfil a festive function. This space played a fundamental role in the political exaltation of the monarchy of Philip IV, where twelve paintings of the most important battles that resulted in Spanish victories were preserved. In order to reinforce the idea of universal monarchy, a cycle commissioned to Zurbarán of the labours of Hercules was created on the headwalls, alluding to the mythological connection of the monarchy. In addition to this, four equestrian portraits were placed at the east and west ends, flanking the doors of the room, which were paired together: Philip IV and Isabella of Bourbon and Philip III and Margaret of Austria. Decorating the doorway above the first pair was another equestrian portrait of Prince Balthasar Charles. The kingdoms that belonged to the Hispanic Monarchy at that time were the following: Kingdom of Aragon, Archduchy of Austria, Duchy of Burgundy, Duchy of Brabant, Kingdom of Sardinia, Kingdom of Castile and Leon, Principality of Catalonia, Kingdom of Cordoba, County of Flanders, Kingdom of Galicia, Kingdom of Granada, Kingdom of Jaen, Kingdom of Mexico, Duchy of Milan, Kingdom of Murcia, Kingdom of Jerusalem, Kingdom of Navarre, Kingdom of Seville, Kingdom of Sicily, Kingdom of Toledo, Kingdom of Peru, Kingdom of Portugal, Kingdom of Valencia and the Lordship of Vizcaya. However, although the decoration was made in 1630-35, it became outdated when Portugal became independent in 1640. It is now known as the former Army Museum. Since 2015 it has been managed by the Prado Museum, which decided to reopen it in 2019 to coincide with the bicentenary of the institution. However, it is still being developed by Norman Foster, who previously worked on the extension of the museum itself.

Collection: Images

Project: 5. Power and powers in the history of Europe: oligarchies, political participation and democracy., 6. Under a cloak of terror: violence and armed conflict in Europe.

Chronology: XVII

Scope: Secondary Education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Sal%C3%B3n_de_Reinos_%28Madrid%29_15.jpg

Resource type: Image

Format: Wall covering

Source: Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid)

Language: Spanish

Date: 1630-35

Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)

Abstract: Image of the vault of the Hall of Kingdoms where scenes from military history and the Thirty Years' War are depicted from the perspective of the Spanish Monarchy

Image