Spanish school of the XVI century

Spanish school of the XVI century.
"Empress Eleanor of Austria".
Oil on canvas. Relined at the beginning of the 20th century.
Measurements: 66 x 50 cm; 77 x 61 cm (frame).
The portrait of Empress Eleanor of Austria that we now present can be related to the artistic guidelines of Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, not only by the treatment of the clothes and the lechuguilla, of tremendous detail, but also by the regal bearing of the portrayed. Thus, the piece remains faithful to the rigid official canons established in the times of Philip II. Pantoja de la Cruz was an important interpreter of the courtly sphere, who dedicated himself to making official portraits, distant and somewhat rigid, emphasized by fashion, very sober. As in this work of Eleanor of Austria, his compositions were simple, with few elements, and generally presented the character in three quarters. Also characteristic of his painting was the attention to quality and detail.