Open full image Pin

Empress Maria Theresa Garlanded by Wisdom

Unknown

1744

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Baroque 18th Century

Dominant colour

Empress Maria Theresa Garlanded by Wisdom is a 1744 by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1744 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This painting shows a woman in a fancy dress kneeling in front of another woman who sits on a throne-like chair. The seated woman wears a heavy, decorated gown and holds a crown. Behind them, a room with statues, pillars, and draped curtains looks grand. A servant stands nearby holding a crown above the seated woman’s head. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to make the figures stand out. The seated woman’s face is calm, while the kneeling woman’s pose shows respect. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other paintings.