1812-19
Oil on panel, 46 x 73 cm
Museo de la Real Academia de San Fernando, Madrid
The Inquisition was introduced in Spain in the 15th century as a form of court run by the Church and intended to protect the monarchy. The last public 'auto da fé' was staged in Madrid in 1874. Nevertheless, under Ferdinand such a 'historical' scene could still be classed as anticlerical propaganda and could get the artist into trouble.