Title

Queen Bianca of Sicily Authorizes Antonio Moncada to Assemble the States General

Co-author

Teniers, David (II)

Antwerp, 1610 - Brussels, 1690

Van Kessel, Jan

Antwerp, 1626 - Antwerp, 1679

Typology

School

Date

Century

Dimensions

Technique

Support

Inscriptions

On the upper noble shield: "ANTONIVS MONCADA HVJVS NOMINIS PRIMVS COMES ADERNIONIS"

On the lower noble shield: "A REGINA SICILIE BLANCA AD CONVOCANDA REGNI MITTITUR ET AD HOC REGIIS LITTERIS AMPLISSIMAN OBTINET POTESTATEM"

Signature: "D. Teniers fec." / J. V. Kessel, fecit 1663"

Observations

This copper is part of a series that extols the lineage of the Moncada 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.   

This work is part of the second phase of the cycle and narrates the exploits of Antonio de Moncada. The central scene, made by David Teniers the Younger, shows Queen Bianca of Sicily authorizing Antonio Moncada to Assemble the States General. The border that frames the scene, the work of Jan van Kessel the Elder, is richly decorated with different objects. In addition, two noble shields are included with inscriptions alluding to the event represented.

Two of the coppers from the cycle are in the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid: The surrender of the Sicilian rebels to Antonio Moncada in 1411 (inv. no. 388); The delivery of the baton of Captain General to Antonio de Moncada by Queen Blanche, regent of Sicily in 1410 (inv. no. 389)

Related links

Bibliography

• 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. 3, n.º 1.

Locations

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