Control and royal image making at the court of Felipe IV (1621-1626)

Abstract

With the accession to the throne of Felipe IV, new political élites were established. In order to legitimise themselves, they promoted different measures concerning the administration of the state, its economical management, the use of sumptuous products, etc. Within this framework, important changes in the use of attire were introduced, which modified the «social landscape» of the court, and which conditioned the early courtly portraits created by Velázquez, who arrived to Madrid in 1623 in order to offer his service to the King.