Elisabeth of Austria
1571
François Clouet captures the icy elegance of Queen Elisabeth of Austria in this 1571 masterpiece, showcasing the height of French Renaissance fashion. She is decked out in a massive, starched ruff collar that frames her face like a giant white doily, paired with a bodice so heavy with pearls and gemstones it must have weighed a ton. Her pale, porcelain skin and serene expression were the ultimate status symbols of the time, projecting an image of untouchable royal purity. Elisabeth was the wife of King Charles IX of France, and this portrait preserves her youthful beauty before the tragic political turmoil that would define her short time as queen.
Location: Louvre Museum, Paris
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