On one of the walls of the Prado Museum in Madrid hangs a very particular portrait. Painted by Alonso Sanchés Coello, sometime between 1585 and 1588, this portrait depicts Isabel Clara Eugénia, the eldest daughter of Phillip of Spain and his 3rd wife, Elizabeth of Valois.

The infanta appears in all her court regalia, with a white satin formal gown embroided with gold and covered in massive jewelry. By her side, a tiny woman appears as a shocking counter point to the prominent but delicate princess. She wears black and her head is covered by a widow´s veil trimmed with lace, while holding two small monkeys with her rough hands.

This Woman´s name was Magdalena Ruiz, and she was the most infamous jester of the Spanish court towards the end of the reign of Philip II. Besides the bizarre contrast between Isabel Clara Eugenia and Magdalena, like night and day, it´s impossible not to wonder the reason to why was she represented next to the daughter of the king, in wat looks like an apparent familiarity and even intimacy.

On the other hand, it´s clear the game of power presented by the portrait, Magdalena is completely dominated by the Infanta.

So, on this video, I’m going to try to find out who was Magdalena Ruiz and what was her relationship with Phillip and his family, and what that relationship can tell us about the king and his time.


Sources:

Bouza, Fernando (2011). D. Filipe I. Círculo de Leitores: Lisboa.
Buesco, Ana Isabel (2008). D. João III. Temas e Debates: Lisboa.

#philipii #blacklegend #spanishempire


Into The Past 2021.