Artwork
Erzherzogin Margarete (1567-1633), Tochter von Maximilian II. als Nonne in ganzer Figur
Erzherzogin Margarete (1567-1633), Tochter von Maximilian II. als Nonne in ganzer Figur is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Andrés López Polanco. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Technique & Style
5 cm in width and was painted by Andrés López Polanco for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains in the collection.
The full-length portrait was executed in oil on canvas in 1608. It measures 163 cm in height and 91.5 cm in width and was painted by Andrés López Polanco for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains in the collection.
The work portrays Archduchess Margaretha of Austria, daughter of Emperor Maximilian II, depicted as a nun in a regal manner. The composition emphasizes formal dignity through precise rendering of attire and a restrained palette, reflecting the stylistic conventions of early Baroque portraiture.
The handling of light and color demonstrates a refined technique, while the canvas support provides a stable surface that has preserved the painting's structural integrity over centuries.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Archduchess Margaretha of Austria (1567–1633), daughter of Maximilian II, was painted by Andrés López Polanco in 1608, executed in oil on canvas and measuring 163 by 91.5 cm. The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is associated with Schloss Ambras in Innsbruck. Beyond these core facts, the available sources do not document the original commission, the circumstances of its creation, or the chain of ownership by which it passed to the museum.
The painting is held by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it is also associated with the Schloss Ambras collection in Innsbruck. The work depicts Archduchess Margaretha of Austria and was created by Andrés López Polanco in 1608.
Specific inventory or accession numbers are not provided in the available records, nor is there any documented exhibition history for this piece within the given sources.
Overview
This 1608 oil portrait by Andrés López Polanco depicts Archduchess Margaretha of Austria, daughter of Maximilian II, in a nun's attire. The work is part of the collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
Archduchess Margaretha is shown in a dark brown nun's robe and white headscarf, holding a staff and resting her hand on a book. A rosary adorns her wrist. These elements suggest a religious life, with the book and staff implying a position of authority or leadership within her order.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrés López Polanco, was a Spanish Baroque painter specializing in portraits. Documented in Madrid between 1608 and 1641, he worked for the court of King Philip III of Spain and King Philip IV of Spain. His exact date of birth is unknown.
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