Tomb effigy of a boy - MET

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Ermengol IX, Count of Urgel, led a short but tumultuous life from around 1300 to 1350. The Cloisters Collection acquired this portrait in 1975 (1975.129) and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The young nobleman's reign as Count of Urgell was cut tragically short after his father's passing in 1243. At just eight years old, Ermengol IX ascended to power, but fate dealt him a cruel hand once more. He succumbed to illness during the same year, making him the only Count of Urgell to meet such an untimely demise. Born to Ponce I of Urgell and María Girón, sister of Rodrigo González Girón, Ermengol IX's family was deeply rooted in the powerful Giron dynasty. This esteemed family dominated medieval Castilla for generations, leaving a lasting legacy that would shape the region's history. A visit to his final resting place, the Church of Santa María de Farfaña, revealed 62 poignant images, each one a testament to the transience of life and the enduring impact of Ermengol IX's short but remarkable existence.