Equestrian Portrait of Elisabeth of France
The portrait Equestrian Portrait of Elisabeth of France was painted by Diego Velázquez of Elisabeth of France circa 1635, originally for the Hall of Realms, originally a wing of the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid.Velázquez had been commissioned to paint a series of five equestrian portraits of the royal family This work of Velázquez had significant input from members of his workshop.The technical studies conducted in the Prado Museum under the direction of Carmen Garrido indicated that the five equestrian portraits were painted at the same time and with the same preparation.The idea that Velázquez retouched a painting by an earlier painter to add detail to the queen's clothing and the trappings of the horse has received support from a number of critics; X-rays reveal a painting under the visible one, in which the horse's girth is visible and the queen's clothing is simpler than the existing one.The queen is depicted in profile, wearing a jacket with embroidered stars and a gold-embroidered skirt with her arms and initials.