| The Defence of Cádiz Against the English | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Francisco de Zurbarán |
| Year | 1634 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 302 cm × 323 cm (119 in × 127 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Defence of Cádiz (full title:The Defence of Cádiz Against the English orThe Hostile Landing of the English near Cádiz in 1625 Under the Command of the Earl of Leicester[note 1]) is a painting in oils on canvas byFrancisco de Zurbarán, now in theMuseo del Prado in Madrid.
It shows the Spanish preparing their defences just before the arrival ofEdward Cecil'sCádiz expedition of 1625. In the left foreground is the city's governorFernando Girón giving orders to his subordinates, including the deputy field commander Diego Ruiz. In the background are the English troops landing in front of the El Puntal fort in the Bay of Cádiz.
Initially attributed toEugenio Caxés,[1] it is now known to have been painted by Zurbarán[2] as part of a decorative scheme for theHall of Realms at theBuen Retiro Palace in Madrid which also includedVelázquez'sThe Surrender of Breda andMaino'sThe Recovery of Bahía de Todos los Santos. Zurbarán also produced ten paintings of theLabours of Hercules for the Hall of Realms; these are also now in the Prado.