Inês de Castro was King Pedro I of Portugal’s lover.

When Pedro was still just a Prince, his father Afonso IV ordered the murder of Inês.

When Pedro came to power, he enacted a bloody revenge on her killers.

Her murder was especially disgusting.  While hiding in a monastery, her murderers found her and decapitated her in front of their children.

When Pedro became King, he sought out her killers who went into exile in Castile, publicly executing them by ripping their hearts out, as they tore his heart out years prior.

Then he exhumed her body, and coronated her as Queen, diadem, royal robes, and all.

Today, they’re buried together in the Monastery of Alcobaça.  They’re still there to this day.

Makes for a wild story, right?

Well, that’s why it’s popular with Artists.

I featured the Russian Artist KARL BRYULLOV (1799-1852) earlier this week.  He’s the guy who painted the Pompeii painting.

In 1834, he painted “The Death of Ines de Castro” which is in that same museum in St Petersburg.

Another fine example of Romanticism.  The children clinging to their mother.  The desperation in her eyes, knowing full well what’s about to happen.  The evil in the eyes and faces of the murderers.

Bryullov nails it all.

You’ll also note how much he limited his color palette. With each color being intentional. He created the perfect scene.

Oil on canvas.