Francisco Pradilla Ortiz (1848-1921) was a famous Spanish painter known for creating many impressive historical scenes.
Born in Villanueva de Gállego, Pradilla had a keen interest in both history and painting. He combined his two passions by depicting many important historical scenes in his works. Pradilla first found recognition when he submitted his painting “Doña Joanna the Mad” to the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Spain and was awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1879, he was commissioned to create La Rendición de Granada (The Surrender of Granada) by the Spanish Senate and that went on to become the most significant work of his life.
Over the course of his prolific career, Francisco Pradilla created over 1,000 paintings, featuring a variety of subjects and styles. While he is primarily recognized for his classical style historical paintings, he also made some wonderful landscape artworks that portrayed some splendidly vivid scenes. Here, we will look at some of the best paintings of this talented artist.
1. “Spring Fog in Italy” (1907)
2. “The surrender of Granada” (1882)
Shows Sultan Boabdil (left), who was the last Nasrid king of Granada (a city in Spain), handing over the city's keys to the Catholic monarchs, Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, in 1492.
3. “Doña Joanna the Mad” (1877)
Depicts Joanna of Castile (a powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages), historically known as Joanna the Mad, holding vigil over the coffin of her late husband, Philip the Handsome.
4. “Queen Juana la Loca, secluded in Tordesillas” (1906)
This work shows Queen Juana I of Castile (1479-1555) locked up in Tordesillas (a town in Spain). The queen remained there for several decades. Next to her is her daughter, Infanta Catalina de Austria (1507-1578), who went on to become Queen consort of Portugal after marrying King John III.
5. “Sale of fish on the beach in Vigo” (1916)
6. “Alfonso I of Aragon” (1879)
An imagined portrait of King Alfonso I of Aragon (1073 - 1134), who was the son of King Sancho Ramírez and Queen Felicia de Roucy.
7. “The Sigh of the Moor” (1892)
This work represents a poignant moment from the fall of Granada in 1492. Here, Sultan Boabdil is shown leaving his beloved Granada and sighing in sadness.
8. “Shipwrecked” (19th century)
9. “Madrid party in honor of Méndez Núñez” (1870)
Shows a feast in progress that was apparently made to honor Casto Méndez Núñez (1824 - 1869), a Spanish naval officer born in Vigo, Galicia.
10. “Baptismal Procession of Prince Juan in Seville” (1910)
Shows the baptism procession of Prince Juan, son of the Catholic Kings, through the streets of Seville in Spain.
Share these beautiful paintings with other art lovers!
