Queen Henrietta Maria of England
1614 - 1641
Anthony van Dyck, the ultimate celebrity portraitist of the 17th century, captured Queen Henrietta Maria in this stunning Baroque masterpiece. Notice the incredibly shiny, voluminous blue satin dress that seems to swallow her petite frame—a clever trick, as the Queen was famously short and Van Dyck often used flowing fabrics to elongate her figure. She sits gracefully with a delicate pink flower in her lap while a royal crown rests casually nearby, signaling her status without her even having to wear it. Van Dyck was the go-to guy for King Charles I's court, and he had a knack for making his subjects look effortlessly glamorous, a skill that basically invented the modern concept of celebrity photography.
- Technique
- Oil painting
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