The Gallery receives its first guest work, the portrait of Philip II by Anthonis Mor

The President of Patrimonio Nacional, Ana de la Cueva, the Director of the Royal Collections Gallery, Leticia Ruiz, and the Director of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, Miguel Zugaza, presented this morning the Gallery's first guest work: the "Portrait of Philip II" painted by Anthonis Mor between 1549 and 1550. The artwork, located at the start of the area dedicated to Philip II in the Hall of the Habsburgs, will remain on display at the Gallery for one year. The President of Patrimonio Nacional, Ana de la Cueva, thanked the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum and especially Miguel Zugaza for their collaboration and commitment, and emphasised that "the Gallery has already successfully completed its first stage of getting up and running". "To inaugurate the guest work space is to honour our essence, because we intend to be a living, awake, rotating space in motion. And this is the first step”, she said. 

The director of the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, Miguel Zugaza, expressed his satisfaction at this first collaboration with the Gallery, bringing to its halls "one of the finest examples of Renaissance portraiture linked to the Crown and one of the most important works in the Bilbao museum's collection". 

According to Leticia Ruiz, Director of the Royal Collections Gallery: "In this painting, Anthonis Mor displays the fundamental characteristics of portraits of the court of the Habsburgs: the luxury of the clothes, the austerity of the gesture, and the distance that it imposes". Available for viewing by visitors to the Gallery until March 2025. 

The happiest of journeys 

Philip II posed for Anthonis Mor at the age of 22, during his so-called "Happiest of Journeys", to be presented as heir to the States General of Flanders. While a politically decisive journey, it also played an essential role in the artistic education of the future king, as it was at this time that he came into contact with international art: palaces, Flemish gardens, tapestries, armour, etc. and artists such as Titian and Mors. 

It is one of the earliest surviving images of Philip II. Anthonis Mor's brush portrays the young Philip as a Renaissance prince. Its importance lies not only in the face - with Philip’s characteristic inexpressiveness that defines his majesty - but also in his garments. The prince wears luxurious court garb which is especially emphasised by the painter, and on it, a necklace, the Golden Fleece, the symbol of the order of the same name. The abundant jewellery in the form of boutonnieres, the rich belt, and the luxurious hilt of the sword, studded with pearls and precious stones, are particularly noteworthy. 

Patrimonio Nacional now exhibiting several works by Anthonis Mor at its Royal Sites. The most notable work is “Philip II at the Battle of Saint Quentin” (1560), depicting the monarch wearing the cuirass of his famed armour with burgundy crosses which he took with him on this campaign and which is kept at the Royal Armoury of Madrid. Philip II wanted this portrait to be placed in the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which is where it may be seen today. 

Round Shield of the Judgement of Paris 

Thanks to the collaboration between Patrimonio Nacional and the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, three objects of extraordinary artistic value from the Royal Armoury of the Royal Palace of Madrid have been on display in Bilbao since last week, also as "guest works". They are: the “Round Shield of the Judgement of Paris”, a sallet, and an arquebus. All three were made at the Eugui Weapons Forge (Navarre) and acquired by Philip II in the 16th century.  

They are accompanied by a selection of 19th-century documents from the General Archive of the Palace and the Royal Library: an illustrated book of the best armoury creations published by the French medievalist Achille Jubinal, period photographs by Charles Clifford, and Jean Laurent, and the album of photographs of the Count of Lipa.