Francisco de Moncada - Raphael Morghen

A masterful 1793 engraving by Raphael Morghen, depicting the Spanish diplomat Francisco de Moncada on horseback, based on the original painting by Anthony van Dyck.

This engraving by Raphael Morghen depicts Francisco de Moncada, a Spanish diplomat and historian, mounted upon a white horse. The work is a reproduction of the famous oil painting by Anthony van Dyck, which captures the subject in full armour. Morghen, a master of the burin, translates the painterly textures of the original canvas into a precise system of lines and cross-hatching. The print demonstrates the technical rigour of late eighteenth-century Italian printmaking, where the goal was to replicate the tonal range and atmospheric qualities of Baroque portraiture through monochrome ink.

Francisco de Moncada is shown in a three-quarter view, his posture conveying authority and military readiness. The horse, rendered with careful attention to its musculature and flowing mane, occupies the centre of the composition. Behind the rider, a dense tree provides a dark, vertical anchor, while the background opens into a distant, hazy horizon. This contrast between the foreground figures and the atmospheric distance is a hallmark of the original Van Dyck composition, which Morghen preserves with fidelity. The lower portion of the print features a detailed Latin inscription, complete with a coat of arms, which identifies the subject and the patron. This inclusion of heraldry and formal text is typical of high-status reproductive prints from the period, intended for scholarly collections and aristocratic libraries.

Morghen was highly regarded during his lifetime for his ability to interpret the works of Old Masters. His approach to this engraving avoids excessive stylisation, opting instead for a balanced application of line that respects the original composition. The result is a clear, readable image that functions both as a historical record of the sitter and as a demonstration of the engraver's skill in handling complex textures, such as the reflective surface of the metal armour and the soft, organic quality of the horse's coat.