Philip V Imposing the Golden Fleece on Marshal Berwick

The 7th Duke of Berwick and 14th Duke of Alba, Don Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart, commissioned this painting to Ingres through his agent Mr. Poublon. Grateful, Ingres gave him the beautiful, fully detailed preparatory drawing that appears in the Casa de Alba collection, with an autographed dedication by the artist. The date on the drawing is 1817. The painting dated in Rome one year later. It was purchased by the 17th Duke of Alba by purchase from the brother of Countess Rosalía Fitz-James for the price of 10,000 francs in 1924.

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Signed in the left corner: “Ingres/1818". In the “Petit Palais” the 17th Duke of Alba saw a watercolor by Ingres with this subject. This canvas is one of three commissioned by Duke Carlos Miguel to Ingres. The other two were “The Grand Duke of Alba presiding over the Conseil des Troubles in Flanders” and the “Landing of Queen Mary Stuart”. The painting of the Grand Duke was seen in Paris by the last Duke, but he did not acquire it because it was a sketchy and very unfriendly canvas. There is no news about the Queen of Scots.