Ferdinand VI als opvolger van Filips V ten midden van zijn familie - Pieter Tanjé

An allegorical engraving by Pieter Tanjé depicting the succession of Ferdinand VI of Spain, featuring complex dynastic symbolism and formal portraiture.

This engraving by Pieter Tanjé depicts the succession of Ferdinand VI of Spain following the death of his father, Philip V. The composition functions as a complex political allegory, typical of the mid-eighteenth century, designed to legitimise the transition of power. At the centre, Ferdinand VI stands as the primary figure, surrounded by various symbolic elements that reinforce his royal authority and divine right.

The print incorporates a series of portrait medallions featuring ancestors, which connect the new monarch to a broader dynastic history. Tanjé employs a dense arrangement of figures, including putti and allegorical personifications, to fill the space around the central royal family. The use of drapery at the top of the frame provides a theatrical quality, framing the scene as if it were occurring on a stage.

Technically, the work demonstrates the precision of Dutch engraving during this period. Tanjé uses varying line weights to distinguish between the textures of velvet, metal, and skin. The shading is achieved through fine cross-hatching, which creates a sense of volume and depth within the monochromatic medium. The inclusion of heraldic shields and ecclesiastical symbols, such as the processional cross held by a kneeling figure, further emphasises the intersection of church and state in Bourbon Spain. This print serves as a visual record of the political climate in 1746, capturing the formalised iconography used to communicate royal succession to the public. The work is a fine example of the high level of craftsmanship found in European printmaking during the Enlightenment, where such images were widely distributed to solidify the image of the monarch across the continent.