Jose Moreno Carbonero: Prince Don Carlos Of Viana 1881
Don Carlos was the fairy-tale prince who was disowned by his father, the king, and whose evil stepmother convinced his father to appoint her son, Ferdinand, as his successor. Don Carlos fought for the throne with the people on his side but was defeated and imprisoned. Later his father released him on one condition: renounce the crown. Carlos fled to his good uncle and lived in a monastery for many years. His only companion was his dog and his books. This is the subject of the painting.
Don Carlos sits in a throne-like carved wooden chair surrounded by big, chunky leather-covered books. His stocking feet with pointed shoes lay on a velvet cushion. He wears a gold, royal robe. He holds a book and stares at nothing in front of him. His pale face with angled bangs is like a death mask or a wax head. His dog shares his physiognomy.
He used to be a very kind, cultivated and admirable Renaissance man who loved music and literature. He wrote a chronicle of the kings of Navarra and translated Aristotle’s works. But now, he is just a shell of his old self. His father took everything from him: his life, his rightful heritage and his future. He is tired of the perpetual idleness and disbar. Even if he is not locked down, he feels like a prisoner in a library. It is a slow death. The expression on his face, or the lack of it, shows that nothing matters to him. He is resigned and half-lunatic. He is the king of those dusty, chunky books and the silence. Nothing more.
Then a ray of hope lit up. After years of forced absence he went back to the king’s court, reconciled with his father and chose a beautiful princess, Isabella to marry. I would gladly say that they lived happily ever after but unfortunately that would not be the truth. Don Carlos’ life was no fairy-tale, after all.
His stepmother schemed against him and interfered the marriage with Isabella. She convinced his father again to imprison him. But Carlos was enthroned in the hearts of the people, and fearing of their anger, the king released him soon, appointing him as his heir.
After only three months Don Carlos died suddenly, under suspicious circumstances. The big winner (and the potential murderer) was the stepmother whose son, Ferdinand, married Isabella and became the king. About thirty years later Christopher Colombus debarked and discovered America under the flag of the royal couple, Ferdinand and Isabella.
Don Carlos has been forgotten and gathers dust somewhere on a shelf among other big, chunky books.
