Title

Guglielmo Raimondo Moncada Transports the Queen Mary of Sicily and Her Entourage on a Ship after the Capture of the Citadel of Catania

Co-author

Van Herp, Willem

Antwerp, 1614 - Antwerp, 1677

Van Kessel, Jan

Antwerp, 1626 - Antwerp, 1679

Typology

School

Date

Century

Dimensions

Technique

Support

Inscriptions

On the upper noble shield: "GVLIELMVS RAYMVNDVS MONCATA / HVJVS NOMINIS / III AVGVSTAE COMES"

On the lower noble shield: "REGINAN A CATINENSI ARCE DETRACTA/ ALIO VALIDA TRIREMI TRANSPORTAT"

Observations

This copper is part of a series commissioned by Luis Guillén de Moncada on the occasion of the marriage in 1664 of his son, Fernando de Aragón y Moncada, VI Prince of Paterno and VIII Duke of Montalto with María Teresa Fajardo, VII Marquise de los Vélez, VI Marquise de Ribera, Molina and Martorell. Luis Guillén de Moncada commissioned a set of 12 coppers. Shortly after, 8 more coppers were made to complete the series.  The project to transfer the models of these 20 coppers to tapestry was never completed; only 6 panels were made.  

This work is part of the first phase of the cycle that narrates the exploits of Guglielmo Raimondo de Moncada, count of Aosta (1384). The central scene, made by Willem van Herp, shows Guglielmo Raimondo Moncada carrying the Queen to a trireme after freeing her from Catania Castle. The border that frames the scene, the work of Jan van Kessel the Elder, is richly decorated with different objects and two noble shields with inscriptions alluding to the event represented.

Related links

Bibliography

• Guy Delmarcel, Margarita Garcia Calvo, and Koenraad Brosens (2010): "Spanish Family Pride in Flemish Wool and Silk: The Moncada and their Baroque Tapestry Collection", en Thomas P. Campbell, Elizabeth A. H. Cleland,  Tapestry in the Baroque : new aspects of production and patronage, Metropolitan Museum of Art Symposia, Yale University Press, New York, New Haven and London, pp. 287, 294, il. 2.
• M. Díaz Padrón, J. Sanzsalazar, A. Diéguez et al. (2003): El Triunfo del mar. Las riquezas marinas en la pintura europea del siglo XVII, MInisterio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación FROM, Madrid, pp. 230-35, il. p. 232-33.
• J. Sanzsalazar (2001): "Un dibujo de Willem van Herp de la serie de los Moncada, en la Galería Nacional de Edimburgo", Boletín del Seminario de Estudios de Arte y Arqueología: BSAA, nº 67, p. 285.
• M. Díaz Padrón (1978): "Obras de Guillaume van Herp en España. II", Archivo español de arte, vol. 51, nº 201, pp. 20-21.
• M. Haro y MM. Dhios et George (1870): Catalogue des Tableaux Anciens, Porcelaines de Sevres, de Saxe et de Chine Bonheur du Jour Taisseries Peovenant de Feu M. Le Marquis de Villafranca Duc de Ferandina de Montalto..., Hôtel Drouot, Paris, pp. 12, n.º 10.
• Ceán Bermúdez, Juan Agustín (1800): Diccionario histórico de los mas ilustres profesores de las bellas artes en España, vol. I, Viuda de Ibarra, Hijos y Compañía, Madrid, p. XXIII.

Locations

• 1664: Collection Vélez, Madrid (Spain)
• 1683 - 1870: Collection Villafranca, Madrid (Spain) (Inventory number: 10)
• Private Collection, Madrid (Spain)