Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias
Baltasar Carlos of Spain ( Spanish: Baltasar Carlos de Austria ) (* October 17, 1629, † March 9, 1646 ) Infant of Spain, was from 1632 to 1646 Prince of Asturias.
Life
Baltasar Carlos was a son of the Spanish King Philip IV and his first wife Isabella of Bourbon. Since he was the only male child of Philip's first marriage, he was considered heir apparent. Baltasar Carlos, however, died in 1646 probably due to smallpox. Throne was succeeded by his half-brother, born in 1661 Charles II from the second marriage of Philip IV with Maria Anna of Austria.
Historically Baltasar Carlos has not played a greater role. Since he was at the time of his death, however, the only male descendant of the king, his death was not only a personal disaster for the king, which he recovered only very slowly, but also a serious setback to the hopes of the whole country. The young prince was repeatedly portrayed by the eminent Spanish painter Velázquez. The empathetic and sensitive portraits created Velazquez, include not only those of his later -born half-sister Margarita (including Las Meninas ) to the most beautiful children's portraits of the Baroque.
- Painting Baltasar Carlos
Infant Baltasar Carlos of Spain ( Velázquez )
Untitled ( Velázquez )
Prince Baltasar Carlos with a Dwarf ( Velázquez, 1631)
Untitled ( Velázquez )
Untitled ( Mazo, ca 1635)