Graftombes van Ferdinand II de Katholieke, Isabella I de Katholieke, Johanna de Waanzinnige en Philips de Schone in de Koninklijke Kapel van de Kathedraal van Granada before 1893

This photograph captures the elaborate tombs of Ferdinand II, Isabella I, Joanna of Castile and Philip I, located in the Royal Chapel of Granada Cathedral. Though the photographer is anonymous, this image opens a window onto the ways the Spanish monarchy sought to cement its authority in the late medieval and early modern periods. Ferdinand and Isabella, the so-called Catholic Monarchs, completed the Reconquista and sponsored Columbus’ voyages, while their daughter Joanna’s reign was marred by accusations of madness. The Royal Chapel, commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella, serves as a powerful architectural statement of royal power and Catholic orthodoxy. As art historians, we examine not only the aesthetic qualities of such works but also the social and political contexts that shaped their creation and reception. By delving into archival records, dynastic histories, and architectural treatises, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, power, and ideology in early modern Spain.