Queen Juana the Mad by Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz (Interpretation and Analysis)

Queen Juana the Mad
Source: Prado Museum

One of the interesting things about art is that it is able to portray the full range of human emotion and experience. Francisco Pradilla y Ortiz’s masterpiece Queen Juana the Mad is one example of this phenomenon.

As the title suggests, the monumental painting depicts Queen Juana of Castile, the daughter of the famed Catholic monarchs: Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain. Juana is an infamous figure in Spanish history, known for her supposed madness following the death of her husband. Juana traveled with her husband’s coffin through Spain to his final resting place. It was said that she refused to part with his body for an unnaturally long time, opening the coffin to embrace the corpse. Although there is no evidence that any of this actually happened, the dramatic and morbid subject matter naturally appealed to artists like Pradilla.

The young queen’s insanity clearly captured Pradilla’s imagination. The painting depicts Juana standing next to her husband’s coffin on a windswept plain. Although she is surrounded by courtiers, she appears to be alone. Her expression is blank, almost vacant. However, her upright posture conveys a sense of solemn dignity, even in despair. The desolate scenery mirrors her state-of-mind, reflecting her struggle and grief.

Portrayal of mental illness varies widely in Western art. Often it is depicted as a state of unreasoned frenzy. However, in Queen Juana the Mad, Pradilla offers a more compassionate view of Juana’s “madness.” It is neither lurid, nor shocking; the painting presents a very human and accessible young woman confronting a mental gulf that has left her trapped in a state of agonized desperation.

Despite this, it is important to note that this painting offers an unrealistic view of the queen’s life. The piece dates to the mid-nineteenth century, during which time it was fairly common to romanticize the medieval and early modern periods. Furthermore, the idea that Queen Juana was actually “mad” is probably apocryphal. Juana was the sole heir to the throne of the kingdom of Castile after her mother’s death. It’s hard to know what actually happened hundreds of years ago, but it seems likely that Juana’s father and husband wanted to control Castile themselves and therefore had Juana declared unstable so she would be unable to rule in her own right. Indeed, her father and later her son ruled in her stead for the rest of her life. Although it is possible that she suffered from mental illness, Juana was known to be highly intelligent during her youth, and it seems unlikely to me that she was ever incapacitated.

While the historical value of this painting is dubious, I think it is significant in that it offers a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of mental illness.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.