Charles I and Henrietta Maria
Original title: Charles I and Henrietta Maria
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the usual individual portraits of the English court, this 1641 etching by Wenceslaus Hollar brings together King Charles I and his wife Henrietta Maria in two side-by-side ovals. The print belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is executed as an etching.
Description
Two oval frames sit next to each other. On the left is a man with long, wavy hair and a full beard; his garment is richly decorated, with a prominent collar and a brooch. The right oval shows a woman with curled hair and a hair ornament, her dress featuring an elaborate collar, and pearl necklaces are visible. Below both portraits, the royal titles appear in English.
Context
This print was made in 1641, just before the English Civil War, in which Charles I opposed Parliament. Hollar, a Bohemian-born engraver, was known as a master of precise reproduction; the patrons were likely royalist circles. By presenting the royal couple in full dignity, their claim to divine right is emphasized during a period of political tension.
Impact
The symmetrical arrangement of the two ovals creates a calm, formal effect. Fabrics and jewelry are captured with great precision, which brings out the royal splendor and establishes a distance from the viewer.
Technique
For this etching, lines were bitten into a copper plate. Hollar used fine, precise strokes to bring out facial features and the textures of the clothing. The present impression is the first state of three; the dimensions are 17.8 x 24.4 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)