Bidspirit auction | Star Lot - Charles II

Star Lot - Charles II on Horseback - Luca Giordano (Naples, 1634-1705) - Oil on canvas. This imposing equestrian composition depicts Charles II mounted on a chestnut horse, positioned in a corvette, majestically dominating the picture space. The monarch, with a haughty bearing and serene face, wears silver armor with a wide red bow around his neck and a golden sash that flutters behind him, suggesting movement and power. His gaze is directed toward a high point, where a celestial figure emerges from illuminated clouds, arms open in an attitude of blessing or intercession, lending the scene an aura of divine legitimacy. At the horse's feet lie defeated and confused bodies, probably defeated enemies, reinforcing the triumphant character of the portrait. To the left, a female figure in oriental clothing observes the scene, providing an exotic note that alludes to the universality of royal power. The agile and vibrant brushstrokes, the contrast between light and shadow, and the powerful modulation of volumes reflect the hand of the painter Lucas Jordano or his circle, characterized by an impetuous technique and a theatrical sense of representation. The composition employs Baroque resources such as the breaking of glory and dramatic lighting to highlight the monarch's prominence. The horse, muscular and dynamic, is treated with remarkable anatomical precision and expressiveness, while the atmosphere filled with clouds and chiaroscuro accentuates the epic significance of the scene. This work is fully inscribed in 17th-century Neapolitan Baroque painting, in which the exaltation of royal power through heroic portraits was a visual means of monarchical propaganda. The fusion of the earthly and the heavenly, the compositional dynamism, and the visual theatricality reinforce the image of Charles II as an anointed sovereign. Dimensions: 107 x 88 cm and 119 x 100 cm framed.