A pair of Philip V embroidered silk panels depicting bullfighting scenes at the Plaza Mayor in Valladolid, Spanish, dated 1743

each panel finely worked in polychrome silk threads depicting the bull ring surrounded by buildings with arcades from which faces are seen watching the cuadrilla (entourage) performing the corrida de toros (running of the bulls) below in the square, with metal-thread detailing to the costumes, horses reins, window surrounds, steeples and to clouds, each panel worked with a running inscription along the lower edge; D,^a María, Rosa, López, D,^a María Joachina, isvs Hermanas, en Valladolid, a ñode 1743; and D,^a Francisca Xaviera, D,^a Teresa Rviz Caballero, isv mro.en Valladolid, Ano 1743. Depicted in the panel with the bullfighter riding the bull, is an official figure in the foreground with speech band, 'Detengale usted Sr. Indio', both panels mounted within glazed gilded and ebonised frames (Qty 2)

Both in good condition overall, with some fading, and minor thread loss. Applied to silk backing, visible gap along the bottom. Some holes to backing. Minor chips to ebonised frames, in corners. Both glazed frames bearing a paper label on reverse: Mortlocks. Old China Dealers, Nos 31-32 Orchard Street, Portman Square, London They are very striking in their box frames, and evocative of a very traditional Spanish past time.
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The architectural representation of the Plaza Mayor in Valladolid in these panels is an imaginative interpretation, with the large building in the background being the Palacio de Santa Cruz, which is in reality placed at an angle to the square, and slightly to the right. It was formerly a magistrate's court and then the Foreign Office.

Inscriptions at the bottom of each panel read: Doña María Rosa López, Doña María Joachina and their sisters in Valladolid, in the year of 1743; and Doña Francisca Xaviera, Doña Teresa Ruiz Caballero and her husband in Valladolid, Year 1743. Philip V, grandson of Louis XIV, Duc d'Anjou, King from 1700-1746, was on the throne at this time. 

Bullfighting is associated with a formal adherence to strict etiquette of performing certain manoeuvres, interpreted in the toreros' (professional bullfighter's) or school's style. The Spanish introduced the practice of fighting on foot in around 1726. The Matadores (bullfighters) have assistants, two Picadores (horsemen with lances), three Banderilleros - (who along with the matadors are collectively known as Toreros), and a Moxo de espadas (sword page). The technique of leading the bull towards the post in the centre of the arena, is now considered old fashioned. In the present panels the unmounted figures are Banderilleros, and there are members of the pubic including a beggar, and Alguaciles (civil officials) dressed in black. The official in the foreground of one of the panels, with text band `Detengale usted Sr. Indio' - Stop it Mr Indian, is possibly directed at the man riding the bull, and is most probably alluding to Spain's pursuits against the Indians for extensive territories in the New World.

These panels are particularly evocative depictions of a renowned Spanish spectacle and a revealing social history commentary of the time. The panels depict the traditional festival taking place originally in the town square, moving later in the 18th century to square and then round dedicated bullrings. Bullfighting spread from Spain to its Central and South American colonies, and although the oldest dedicated bullring is La Real Maestranza de Caballerîa in Seville, Spain (first used in 1765), the largest venue is now the Plaza de Toros México, in Mexico city.