Portrait of the Duke of Pastrana 1670

Juan Carreno de Miranda made this portrait of the Duke of Pastrana using oil paints, a common medium for depicting nobility at the time. The Duke is depicted wearing dark clothing, and a cape, and he carries a sword at his hip. The materiality of this painting goes beyond the cost of paint and canvas. Consider the time and labor involved in creating such a large-scale work, particularly the preparation of pigments. But the Duke himself is also adorned with a cape, sword, jewelry, and even a horse, all objects produced by skilled laborers. The accumulation of these objects, and the Duke's ownership of them, speaks to his wealth and power. Notice also, at the lower left, a servant is kneeling before the Duke. It is interesting to consider how the materials, makers, and modes of production are deeply interwoven with the social structure of the time. The portrait serves not only as a depiction of a person, but as an emblem of the power and wealth built through the labor of others.