Casita del Infante
Encyclopedia
The Casita del Infante is a historical building in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
, constructed as a private home for the Infante Gabriel of Spain
, hence its name. The small residence was built during the late 18th century during the reign of his father Charles III of Spain
. The Casita was built in an era where it was popular for nobles and Royalty to have a small "hideaway" to entertain informally; the most famous example of this is Marie Antoinette's
Petit Trianon
.
between 1771 and 1773. The building was designed in Neoclassical
style by the prominent architect Juan de Villanueva
whose best-known building is the Museo del Prado
in Madrid
. Villanueva also designed the Casita del Príncipe
, the private residence of Gabriel's older brother Infante Charles, Prince of Asturias
. The two "casitas" form a pair, with the Casita del Infante having the alternative name of the Casita de Arriba (the upper casita) indicating its position relative to the Casita del Principe.
Patrimonial Nacional
, the state agency for Spanish royal sites, is responsible for managing the property, which is open to the public.
The gardens of the building were designed in the Italian style and still remain today even if they are slightly less lavish. Sadly, the original decoration has been lost; one ceiling can still be seen and was painted by Vicente Gómez; the ceiling shows the Four Seasons.
: the Infanta Maria Carlota (4 November 1787 - 6 November 1787) and his second son the Infante Carlos (28 October 1788 - 9 November 1788); the two children died at the Casita as well. Infante Gabriel as well as his wife would catch smallpox in 1788 and would die at the Casita. The couple, as well as the Infante Carlos, were buried at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
which can be seen from the Casita with beautiful views.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, constructed as a private home for the Infante Gabriel of Spain
Infante Gabriel of Spain
Infante Gabriel of Spain was an Infante of Spain.-Biography:Born at the Palace of Portici outside Naples, he was named Prince Gabriel Antonio Francisco Javier Juan Nepomuceno José Serafin Pascual Salvador of Naples and Sicily; he was the fourth son of King Charles VII and V and Maria Amalia of...
, hence its name. The small residence was built during the late 18th century during the reign of his father Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
. The Casita was built in an era where it was popular for nobles and Royalty to have a small "hideaway" to entertain informally; the most famous example of this is Marie Antoinette's
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
Petit Trianon
Petit Trianon
The Petit Trianon is a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France.-Design and construction:...
.
History
The Casita was built near the Renaissance monastery-palace of El EscorialEl Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
between 1771 and 1773. The building was designed in Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style by the prominent architect Juan de Villanueva
Juan de Villanueva
Juan de Villanueva was a Spanish architect. Alongside Ventura Rodríguez, Villanueva is the best known architect of Spanish Neoclassicism....
whose best-known building is the Museo del Prado
Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and unquestionably the best single collection of...
in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Villanueva also designed the Casita del Príncipe
Casita del Príncipe (El Escorial)
The House of the Prince is an eighteenth-century building located in El Escorial, Spain. It was designed by the neoclassical architect Juan de Villanueva as the private residence of the heir to the Spanish throne Charles, Prince of Asturias.It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in...
, the private residence of Gabriel's older brother Infante Charles, Prince of Asturias
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
. The two "casitas" form a pair, with the Casita del Infante having the alternative name of the Casita de Arriba (the upper casita) indicating its position relative to the Casita del Principe.
Patrimonial Nacional
Patrimonio Nacional
The Consejo de Administración del Patrimonio Nacional is a Spanish state agency, under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Presidency by delegation of the Prime Minister of Spain, that administers the sites owned by the Spanish...
, the state agency for Spanish royal sites, is responsible for managing the property, which is open to the public.
The gardens of the building were designed in the Italian style and still remain today even if they are slightly less lavish. Sadly, the original decoration has been lost; one ceiling can still be seen and was painted by Vicente Gómez; the ceiling shows the Four Seasons.
Royal residents
It was at the Casita that Infante Gabriel saw the birth of his two last children by his wife Infanta Mariana Vitória of PortugalInfanta Mariana Vitória of Portugal
Mariana Victoria of Portugal was a Portuguese Infanta , the third child and eldest daughter of Queen Maria I of Portugal and King Peter III of Portugal.-Biography:Mariana Victoria was born at the Royal Palace of Queluz, in the...
: the Infanta Maria Carlota (4 November 1787 - 6 November 1787) and his second son the Infante Carlos (28 October 1788 - 9 November 1788); the two children died at the Casita as well. Infante Gabriel as well as his wife would catch smallpox in 1788 and would die at the Casita. The couple, as well as the Infante Carlos, were buried at the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
which can be seen from the Casita with beautiful views.