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Saturday, May 03, 2008

Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz: Joanna (Joan) the Mad

F. Pradilla y Ortiz: 1848-1921
Doña Juana La Loca (Showing Juana [Joan] the Mad holding vigil over the coffin of her late husband, Philip the Handsome)1877
Oil on Canvas 340 x 500 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid


F. Pradilla y Ortiz: 1848-1921
La reina doña Juana 'la Loca', recluida en Tordesillas con su hija, la infanta doña Catalina/ Queen Joanna [Joan] the Mad in seclusion in Tordesillas with her daughter Princess Catalina 1906
Oil on canvas 85 cm x 146 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid


Francisco Pradilla Ortiz (July 24, 1848–November 1, 1921) was a prolific Spanish painter famous for creating historical scenes. He was also a master of the landscape

In 1878 he submitted his painting Doña Joanna of Castile (or Juana la Loca) to the National Exhibition in Spain and was awarded the Medal of Honour.

He traveled, mostly in Italy, portraying local themes and people. In 1897 he returned to Madrid as the director of the Museo del Prado.

His total output was well over 1,100 works

Pradilla did several representations of Juana la Loca (Joanna, or Joan the Mad). The insane Castilian princess was a common model for paintings at this time.

Her insanity moved her to undertake this journey from Burgos to Granada where she wished to bury her husband. The widow stands centre in the painting dominating it and the scene.

Her story contains characteristics of unrequited love, obsessive jealousy, and undying fidelity

Joanna (Spanish: Juana I de Castilla) (November 6, 1479 – April 12, 1555), called Joanna [or Joan] the Mad (Juana La Loca), was Queen regnant of Castile and mother of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. She was the second daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Isabella of Castile, and was born at Toledo.

For her interesting story and history see the Wikipedia article: Joanna of Castile

See also: Cole, History of Spain
Ward, Spanish Art in the Eighteenth Century

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