Religion saved by Spain facts for kids

Religion saved by Spain is a famous oil painting created by the Italian artist Titian between 1572 and 1575. Titian was a master of the Venetian school, a style of painting from Venice, Italy. This painting celebrates the important Battle of Lepanto which happened in 1571.

It is one of Titian's later works and is considered a very impressive piece of art. The painting is also known by other names like Spain succoring Religion or Religion assisted by Spain. It was sent to Philip II of Spain in 1576. The painting has been part of the Spanish Royal Collection for centuries and is now displayed at the Prado Museum in Madrid.

What the Painting Shows

Religion saved by Spain is an allegory, which means it uses symbols to represent ideas. It also has a message about politics. The painting shows Spain as a strong woman in a dramatic landscape. She holds a shield in her right hand and a spear with a flag of Victory in her left. Her fingers on both hands make a "V" shape for victory. The shield has the coat of arms of Philip II, who was the King of Spain.

Behind the main figure of Spain, there is another woman holding a sword. She represents Justice. The painting also shows the threat from the Turkish people. This is shown by a man, possibly the sea god Poseidon, wearing a turban in a chariot pulled by two horses on the sea.

The Christian religion is shown as a woman on the right side of the painting. She is kneeling and covered in blue cloth. She looks threatened not only by the Turks but also by Protestantism, which is shown as snakes. On the far left, behind Justice, you can see the head of a man. This might be Juan of Austria, who was Philip II's half-brother and the commander of the Christian fleet at the Battle of Lepanto.

The Story Behind the Painting

The painting celebrates a major historical event: the Battle of Lepanto. In this battle, the forces of the Holy League defeated the Ottoman navy in 1571. The Holy League was a powerful alliance of Spain, Venice, and the Papal States (the lands ruled by the Pope).

This victory was very important because it stopped the Ottoman Empire from expanding further into Europe.

Earlier Versions of the Painting

The idea for this painting was not entirely new. Titian had started a similar painting for Alfonso d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara, but it was not finished when the Duke died. The artist Giorgio Vasari saw this unfinished painting in Titian's studio in 1568.

Titian later changed this unfinished work and sent it to Maximilian II, the Holy Roman Emperor, before November 1568. This version showed a figure representing the Holy Roman Empire protecting an allegorical figure of Religion. An artist named Giulio Fontana made an engraving of this version around 1568. However, the original oil painting from this earlier version is now lost.

See also

• List of works by Titian

Images for kids

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  Giulio Fontana, after Titian: Religion saved by the Empire