Portrait of Philip V of Spain

This portrait shows Spanish King Philip V of Bourbon. It is a three-quarter portrait with the subject facing the viewer. Wearing a French-style wig, he is dressed in the Spanish style, in black with a white lace collar, with the Golden Fleece at his neck. The portrait has a frame made of olive wood, symbolizing victory, and a legend at the base which refers to the monarch’s life.

Born in Versailles in 1683, he was king of Spain from November 16, 1700 until his death in 1746, apart from a brief period when he abdicated to his son, Louis I, who died prematurely. The real power during his reign lay at first with the Princesse des Ursins and Jean Orry and then, from 1714 onward, with his second wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and the ministers José Patiño, José del Campillo, and the Marquess of Ensenada. Soon after his coronation, the young Philip was forced to deal with the War of the Spanish Succession, unleashed following his ascension to the Spanish throne. He successfully held onto the crown with the help of his grandfather, Louis XIV of France. However, in signing the Peace of Utrecht he lost sovereignty over his European possessions and had to cede trade control with the Indies to England.

Regarding his naval policies, it is fair to say that the arrival of the new king marked a turning point in the decline seen during the previous century. Convinced that Spain needed a new and powerful fleet to defend itself and to protect overseas trade, he put his trust in skilled officials—such as José Patiño and the Marquess of Ensenada—and ensured that the 18th century was the golden age of the Spanish navy.

The engraving is by an unknown artist, possibly dating from the 18th century.