The Surrender of Breda
Encyclopedia
La rendición de Breda also known as El cuadro de las lanzas or Las lanzas, is a painting by Velázquez
, painted during the years 1634–35, and inspired while Velázquez was visiting Italy with Ambrosio Spinola, the Italian general who conquered Breda
on June 5, 1625. It is considered one of Velázquez's best artworks. Jan Morris
has called it "one of the most Spanish of all pictures".
in 1625 was one of the few major successes of Spanish arms in the latter stages of the Eighty Years' War. The Spanish general, the Genoese aristocrat Ambrosio Spinola, conquered Breda in contradiction to the instructions of his superiors. Before its capture the Spanish government had decided that siege warfare of heavily defended towns of the Low Countries was too wasteful and that it would concentrate on the economic blockade of the Dutch republic. The bulk of Spanish forces were diverted to the unfolding vast Thirty Years War.
Breda, a city near the frontier of Holland proper had been occupied in 1567 by Alva
, ten years afterwards recovered by Holach, and again seized by Hautepenne. The town was the seat of the Orange family, who had a fortified castle called the “Vale of Tempe.
In 1624, the suspension of hostilities in Germany enabled the Spanish to concentrate their forces in that direction. Although attacking such a formidable fortress was widely considered to be unwise, Ambrosio Spinola made the bewildering executive decision to march on Breda. The Marquis de Leganés
and Carlos Coloma
also accompanied Spinola to Breda. Spinola had made a military reputation for himself in 1604 and been rewarded with the Golden Fleece
for conquering Ostend
in Flanders. Consequently, the siege of Breda was not only a clash between the Netherlands and Spain, but a, “decisive contest between two famous generals, [Spinola and Dutch general Nassau], both well versed in the arts of fortification, who had their renown at stake”.
Defending the Dutch, Maurice of Nassau led hostilities against Spinola but died before the end of the siege. His successor, Frederick Henry
, unsuccessfully attempted to revive Dutch momentum, but ultimately surrendered in May. The terms of defeat at Breda were some of the most honorable and lenient of the time. Spinola’s success and bravery in the battle inspired Velázquez’s The Surrender of Breda. The town of Breda had already reverted to the Dutch when Velázquez was painting The Surrender of Breda and its conqueror, Ambrosio Spinola was dead. Spinola died in the autumn of 1630, only a year after Velazquez had sailed with him on the voyage to Italy.
Velázquez painted The Surrender of Breda as an emblem of Spanish nationalism and as a tribute to Ambrosio Spinola. Diego Velázquez and Ambrosio Spinola had been thrown closely together “During the voyage from Barcelona to Genoa, in 1629… The artist must also have been more deeply affected than others by the tragic result of the siege of Casale
, which occurred soon after the voyage - how Spinola was shamefully sacrificed; and how, mortified at the slur cast on his military honor, he soon after sank with gloomy thoughts into the grave.”
Velázquez felt seriously discouraged after Ambrosio Spinola’s death and sought to legitimize Spinola. Velázquez acquaintance with Spinola inspired Velázquez to paint The Surrender of Breda as a tribute to Spinola’s legacy.
The Surrender of Breda was one of twelve life-size battle scenes intended to perpetuate victories won by Philip IV’s armies that hung in the Salón de Reinos
in Buen Retiro. It illustrates the exchange of keys that occurred three days after the capitulation between Spain and the Netherlands was signed on June 5, 1625. Hence, the focus of the painting is not on the battle itself, but rather the reconciliation. The key is “the precise center of his design, [enclosed] it in an emphatic parallelogram so that it becomes the focus of the entire large canvas—literally the key to the composition, locking all other components into place.” The center of the painting, literally and figuratively, is on the key given to Spinola by Justin Nassau. The remarkable quality of this battle painting is its static and sentimental qualities.
The extraordinary respect and dignity Spinola demonstrated towards the Dutch army is praised through The Surrender of Breda. Spinola “had forbidden his troops to jeer at, or otherwise abuse, the vanquished Dutch, and, according to a contemporary report, he himself saluted Justin.” The painting demonstrates the glimpses of humanity that can be exposed as a result of war, and commends Spinola’s consideration for Nassau and the Dutch army.
Velázquez’s relationship with Spinola makes The Surrender of Breda especially historically accurate. The depiction of Spinola is undoubtedly accurate, and Spinola’s memory of the battle contributed to the perspective with which Velázquez composed the painting. Velázquez’s knowledge of the intimate history of the siege of Breda makes The Surrender of Breda an especially important historical commentary. Velázquez “desired in his modest way to raise a monument to one of the most humane captains of the day, by giving permanence to his true figure in a manner of which he alone had the secret.” The Surrender of Breda salutes a moment of convergence between Spanish power, restraint, and kindness in the battle.
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
, painted during the years 1634–35, and inspired while Velázquez was visiting Italy with Ambrosio Spinola, the Italian general who conquered Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
on June 5, 1625. It is considered one of Velázquez's best artworks. Jan Morris
Jan Morris
Jan Morris CBE is a Welsh nationalist, historian, author and travel writer. She is known particularly for the Pax Britannica trilogy, a history of the British Empire, and for portraits of cities, notably Oxford, Venice, Trieste, Hong Kong, and New York City.With an English mother and Welsh father,...
has called it "one of the most Spanish of all pictures".
History
The capture of BredaBreda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
in 1625 was one of the few major successes of Spanish arms in the latter stages of the Eighty Years' War. The Spanish general, the Genoese aristocrat Ambrosio Spinola, conquered Breda in contradiction to the instructions of his superiors. Before its capture the Spanish government had decided that siege warfare of heavily defended towns of the Low Countries was too wasteful and that it would concentrate on the economic blockade of the Dutch republic. The bulk of Spanish forces were diverted to the unfolding vast Thirty Years War.
Breda, a city near the frontier of Holland proper had been occupied in 1567 by Alva
Alva
- People :*A. Shanker Alva , Indian politician and lawyer*Bartolomé de Alva , Novohispanic mestizo secular priest and Nahuatl translator*Jeevaraj Alva , Indian politician...
, ten years afterwards recovered by Holach, and again seized by Hautepenne. The town was the seat of the Orange family, who had a fortified castle called the “Vale of Tempe.
In 1624, the suspension of hostilities in Germany enabled the Spanish to concentrate their forces in that direction. Although attacking such a formidable fortress was widely considered to be unwise, Ambrosio Spinola made the bewildering executive decision to march on Breda. The Marquis de Leganés
Diego Felipez de Guzmán, Marquis of Leganés
Diego Mexía Felipez de Guzmán y Dávila , vicecount of Butarque and first Marquis of Leganés, was a Spanish politician and army commander.-Biography:...
and Carlos Coloma
Carlos Coloma
Don Carlos Coloma y de Saa, 1st Marquess of Espinar, a title awarded on 16 September 1627 by king Philip IV of Spain , a Knight of the Order of Santiago since 1597, and a Commander of such order since 28 April 1620, Governor and lieutenant of the Counties of Roussillon, Cerdanya and Conflent since...
also accompanied Spinola to Breda. Spinola had made a military reputation for himself in 1604 and been rewarded with the Golden Fleece
Golden Fleece
In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece is the fleece of the gold-haired winged ram, which can be procured in Colchis. It figures in the tale of Jason and his band of Argonauts, who set out on a quest by order of King Pelias for the fleece in order to place Jason rightfully on the throne of Iolcus...
for conquering Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
in Flanders. Consequently, the siege of Breda was not only a clash between the Netherlands and Spain, but a, “decisive contest between two famous generals, [Spinola and Dutch general Nassau], both well versed in the arts of fortification, who had their renown at stake”.
Defending the Dutch, Maurice of Nassau led hostilities against Spinola but died before the end of the siege. His successor, Frederick Henry
Frederick Henry
Frederick Henry may refer to:People* Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, , Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel* Frederick Henry , Roman Catholic bishop in Calgary, Canada...
, unsuccessfully attempted to revive Dutch momentum, but ultimately surrendered in May. The terms of defeat at Breda were some of the most honorable and lenient of the time. Spinola’s success and bravery in the battle inspired Velázquez’s The Surrender of Breda. The town of Breda had already reverted to the Dutch when Velázquez was painting The Surrender of Breda and its conqueror, Ambrosio Spinola was dead. Spinola died in the autumn of 1630, only a year after Velazquez had sailed with him on the voyage to Italy.
Velázquez painted The Surrender of Breda as an emblem of Spanish nationalism and as a tribute to Ambrosio Spinola. Diego Velázquez and Ambrosio Spinola had been thrown closely together “During the voyage from Barcelona to Genoa, in 1629… The artist must also have been more deeply affected than others by the tragic result of the siege of Casale
Casale
Casale, Italian from the late Latin casalis for an isolated house, or group of houses, in the countryside, may refer to:-People:*Gerald Casale musician*Giovanni Casale , an Italian judoka*Giuseppe Casale Italian bishop...
, which occurred soon after the voyage - how Spinola was shamefully sacrificed; and how, mortified at the slur cast on his military honor, he soon after sank with gloomy thoughts into the grave.”
Velázquez felt seriously discouraged after Ambrosio Spinola’s death and sought to legitimize Spinola. Velázquez acquaintance with Spinola inspired Velázquez to paint The Surrender of Breda as a tribute to Spinola’s legacy.
Description
Salón de Reinos
The Salón de Reinos or salón grande is a wing of the palacio del Buen Retiro in Madrid. Built between 1630 and 1635, it housed the largest paintings in the royal collection, now all in the Museo Nacional del Prado...
in Buen Retiro. It illustrates the exchange of keys that occurred three days after the capitulation between Spain and the Netherlands was signed on June 5, 1625. Hence, the focus of the painting is not on the battle itself, but rather the reconciliation. The key is “the precise center of his design, [enclosed] it in an emphatic parallelogram so that it becomes the focus of the entire large canvas—literally the key to the composition, locking all other components into place.” The center of the painting, literally and figuratively, is on the key given to Spinola by Justin Nassau. The remarkable quality of this battle painting is its static and sentimental qualities.
According to the statement made by eye-witnesses both [Spinola and Nassau] had dismounted and Spinola awaited the arrival of Justin surrounded by a “crown” of princes and officers of high birth. The governor then presented himself with his family, kinsfolk and distinguished students of the military academy, who had been shut up in the place during the siege. Spinola greeted and embraced his vanquished opponent with a kindly expression and still more kindly words, in which praised the courage and endurance of the protracted defense.
The extraordinary respect and dignity Spinola demonstrated towards the Dutch army is praised through The Surrender of Breda. Spinola “had forbidden his troops to jeer at, or otherwise abuse, the vanquished Dutch, and, according to a contemporary report, he himself saluted Justin.” The painting demonstrates the glimpses of humanity that can be exposed as a result of war, and commends Spinola’s consideration for Nassau and the Dutch army.
Velázquez’s relationship with Spinola makes The Surrender of Breda especially historically accurate. The depiction of Spinola is undoubtedly accurate, and Spinola’s memory of the battle contributed to the perspective with which Velázquez composed the painting. Velázquez’s knowledge of the intimate history of the siege of Breda makes The Surrender of Breda an especially important historical commentary. Velázquez “desired in his modest way to raise a monument to one of the most humane captains of the day, by giving permanence to his true figure in a manner of which he alone had the secret.” The Surrender of Breda salutes a moment of convergence between Spanish power, restraint, and kindness in the battle.
Sources
- Justi, Carl. Diego Velázquez and his Times. London: H. Grevel & Co., 1889.
- López-Rey, José. Velázquez’ Work and World. Greenwich, CT: New York Graphic Society, 1968.
- Morris, JamesJan MorrisJan Morris CBE is a Welsh nationalist, historian, author and travel writer. She is known particularly for the Pax Britannica trilogy, a history of the British Empire, and for portraits of cities, notably Oxford, Venice, Trieste, Hong Kong, and New York City.With an English mother and Welsh father,...
. Spain. London: Faber & Faber, 1964. - Museo Nacional del Prado, "The Surrender of Breda, or The Lances" (accessed July 3, 2009).
- Pioch, Nicolas. "Velázquez (or Velásquez), Diego." October 14, 2002. http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/velazquez/ (accessed December 4, 2008).
- White, John Manchip. Diego Velazquez: Painter and Courtier. Chicago: Rand McNally & Company, 1969.