Portrait of Elisabeth of Bourbon, Queen of Spain (ca. 1650)
Original title: Portrait of Elisabeth of Bourbon, Queen of Spain
kurzbeschreibung
Elisabeth of Bourbon, Queen of Spain, appears in a costly gown accompanied by an elaborate hairstyle and pearl jewelry. Jacob Louys made this portrait around 1650 as an etching with engraving. The present impression is trimmed and measures 39.6 × 27.3 cm.
Description
The queen occupies the middle of the image, and the arrangement is symmetrical. She wears a tall, richly decorated hairstyle with pearls and a dress also set with pearl ornaments. A wreath of flowers and leaves surrounds the figure. The image remains in the monochrome tones typical of an etching, with light distributed evenly. Baroque shaping shows in exact linework and ornamental details.
Context
Elisabeth of Bourbon (1602–1644) was a daughter of the French king Henry IV and married the Spanish king Philip IV in 1615. The portrait falls in an era when representative ruler portraits were meant to consolidate dynastic power. Jacob Louys worked as an engraver in Paris and produced numerous portraits of European nobles. This work belongs to a series of ruler portraits that were widely circulated in the 17th century.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement and the floral frame give the portrait a ceremonial, dignified presence. The precise rendering of jewelry and fabrics underlines the royal rank of the sitter. Even light and exact lines create a calm, representative effect.
Technique
The combination of etching and engraving produces fine lines and sharp contours. This method accurately reproduces textures and details, especially in the pearls and leaf ornaments. The print is trimmed, and the original margins are missing.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)