The Coronation of Inês de Castro - Pedro-Charles Comte 1823

The haunting tale of the coronation of a dead Queen, told alongside the painting. Writing reads: Inês de Castro was born into a noble Spanish family and came to Portugal as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Constanza Manuel, who was married to Don Pedro, the heir to the Portuguese throne. Despite her initial role, Inês quickly caught the eye of Don Pedro, who fell deeply in love with her, leading to a secret romance. Although their relationship faced many obstacles, including the opposition of Don Pedro's father, King Afonso IV, the bond between Pedro and Inês grew stronger over time. After Constanza’s death, the couple secretly married and had four children, but their happiness was short-lived. Afonso, still disapproving of the union, had her brutally murdered. When Pedro became king, legend claims he sought revenge, exhuming Inês’ body and declaring her his lawful queen in a dark and symbolic ceremony in 1361.