Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 - 1336) (previously called Saint Elizabeth of Hungary)
Spanish (Madrid) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1600 - 1629
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
362 x 298 mm (14 1/4 x 11 3/4 in)
Place of origin
Madrid
Order this imageCollection
Upton House, Warwickshire
NT 446827
Caption
The figure was always thought to have been a representation of St Elizabeth of Hungary (canonised in 1235), who was a king’s daughter, and who became a nun. However, given that this picture must be by a Spanish artist, it is more likely to be of her great-niece, Elizabeth, or Isabella, of Portugal (canonised in 1626). She was the daughter of Pedro III, King of Aragon, and wife of King Denis of Portugal. She ended her days living alongside the convent of Poor Clares at Coimbra that she founded. This picture was formerly catalogued as by Murillo, but the similarities are minimal.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 - 1336) (previously called Saint Elizabeth of Hungary), Spanish (Madrid) School/ Madrilenian School, early 17th century. Nearly half length, body almost facing, head turned to the left and looking up; her right hand held across her breast, her left raised; she wears a crown and the habit of a Franciscan nun. Named after her grand-aunt Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231), daughter of Pedro III of Spain (1239-1285), she married King Denis of Portugal (1261-1325). As queen she was known for her piety, generosity and social concern for the welfare of the people. Her marriage, which was unhappy produced two children, one of whom succeeded as King Alphonso IV of Portugal (1291-1357). On the death of her husband she went on a pilgrimage to Compostela, became a Franciscan tertiary and retired to Coimbra where she spent the remainder of her life near the Poor Clare convent which she had founded. In the year of her death her son Alphonso IV led his troops against Alphonso XI of Castile (1311-1350). Elizabeth went onto the battlefield itself and reconciled them, thus averting the usual bloodbath which would have ensued. She died on the 4th July at Esteremoz and her body was taken for burial at Coimbra. Miracles were associated with her tomb and she was canonised by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644). Her emblem in art is the rose, either worn in a crown or carried in wintertime, which was based on a legend that when her brutal husband challenged her with wasting her substance on the poor the scraps of food gathered in her dress miraculously turned to roses. Her feast day is 4th July and she is invoked in time of war.
Provenance
Given with Upton House to the National Trust by Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted (1882 – 1948), in 1948, shortly before his death
Credit line
Upton House, The Bearsted Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Spanish (Madrid) School, artist previously catalogued as attributed to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Seville 1617 - Seville 1682), artist
