The Sigh of the Moor Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Sigh of the Moor

Artist	Francisco Pradilla Ortiz
Year	c.1878-1892
Medium	Oil on canvas
Movement	Orientalist
Subject	Muhammad XII of Granada
Dimensions	1.95 m × 3.02 m (6 ft 5 in × 9.9 ft)
Owner	Private collection

The Sigh of the Moor is a famous painting by Spanish artist Francisco Pradilla Ortiz. It shows Muhammad XII, also known as Boabdil. He was the last ruler, or Emir, of Granada from the Nasrid family.

The painting shows Boabdil after he gave up Granada to the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella. He is taking one last look at the city he has lost before he goes away forever.

What is The Sigh of the Moor?
- The Story Behind the Painting
- The End of an Era: The Treaty of Granada
About the Artist
- Who was Francisco Pradilla?
Painting Details
Gallery
See also

What is The Sigh of the Moor?

The Story Behind the Painting

This painting tells the story of Muhammad XII, the last ruler of Granada. He is shown turning back to see his city one last time. This moment happens at a place called the Puerto del Suspiro del Moro, which means "Pass of the Moor's Sigh." After this, he went into exile, meaning he had to leave his home and live somewhere else.

A famous story says that Boabdil's mother, Aixa, told him to "weep like a woman for the kingdom you could not defend like a man." For a long time, many historians agreed with Aixa and thought Boabdil was a weak ruler.

However, a modern historian named Elizabeth Drayson has a different idea. She believes Boabdil was trying to protect his people. He was making a final stand against people who were not tolerant of different religions or cultures.

The End of an Era: The Treaty of Granada

The Treaty of Granada was a very important agreement. It was also called the Capitulations. This treaty was signed in 1491 between Boabdil and the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella.

The treaty officially ended the Granada War on January 2, 1492. It also marked the end of Arab rule in Spain. Arab rule had started a very long time ago, in 711, with the Umayyad conquest.

About the Artist

Who was Francisco Pradilla?

The artist, Francisco Pradilla (1848-1921), was a well-known Spanish painter. He was even the director of the Royal Academy of Spain in Rome for a short time. He also led the Prado Museum, a famous art museum. But most of his life, he focused on creating his own art.

Pradilla started painting The Sigh of the Moor around the same time he was working on another big painting. That painting was called The Surrender of Granada. The Spanish Senate, which is like a government body, asked him to paint it in 1879.

It seems that Pradilla did not finish The Sigh of the Moor until about 1892. The painting was sold in 2018 and is now owned by a private collector. In 2021, it was officially named an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC). This means it is a very important piece of art for Spain.