The Bell of Huesca

This is a large painting nearly six feet (2 m) tall, but it is still only half the size of the work that won José Casado del Alisal an honorary mention at the 1881 Spanish National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes). That piece belongs to the Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) and is currently on loan to Huesca's City Council (Ayuntamiento). The Huesca Museum piece was painted in 1880 and is an example of history painting, which was very popular in the 19th century. As already noted, it differs from the Prado Museum work in its size, and darker tones. The painting depicts the ending of the Bell of Huesca legend. King Ramiro II of Aragon shows the nobles in his kingdom the severed heads of those who challenged his authority. This is traditionally said to have happened in the Bell Room (Sala de la Campana) in the old royal palace called the Palacio de los Reyes de Aragón, which is now part of the Huesca Museum.