Artwork

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart, by Anthony van Dyck, oil, 1641
William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart, by Anthony van Dyck, oil, 1641

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Anthony van Dyck. It dates from 1641 and is held in the collection of the collection Willem V Prince of Orange Nassau.

About this work

A nine-year-old Mary Stuart stands at left in a silver wedding gown, her higher royal rank reversing the usual placement of bride and groom.

A nine-year-old Mary Stuart stands at left in a silver wedding gown, her higher royal rank reversing the usual placement of bride and groom. Anthony van Dyck painted the teenage William II, Prince of Orange, holding her hand and pointing to the ring on her finger soon after their London marriage in May 1641. The diamond brooch at her breast was a wedding gift, one of several jewels bought in Antwerp to seal the Anglo-Dutch alliance.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts William II, Prince of Orange (aged 14), and his bride Mary Stuart (aged 9), daughter of King Charles I of England. It was commissioned by William's parents to commemorate their marriage on 12 May 1641 in London. William wears an orange doublet, a symbolic reference to the House of Orange, while Mary wears a white embroidered dress, traditionally emblematic of purity.

He holds her hand, signifying their union. The background includes a column and tapestry, elements that denote the couple's royal status. As a whole, the portrait celebrates a political alliance between the Dutch Republic and England, while also marking one of Anthony van Dyck's final works before his death later that year.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, this work exemplifies van Dyck's late Baroque portraiture, characterized by refined elegance and sophisticated handling. The large-format support (182.5 × 142 cm) accommodates a full-length depiction of the young couple against a backdrop of a column, tapestry, and open sky with clouds, elements typical of van Dyck's fluent compositional style. The prince is shown in an orange doublet and breeches with lace and a sword, while the bride wears a white embroidered dress and pearls, their attire rendered with precise brushwork that captures textures.

As one of van Dyck's last paintings, the work displays his mature, confident technique, though specific condition details are not recorded.

History & Provenance

Painted in London in 1641, this double portrait was commissioned by the parents of William II, Prince of Orange, Frederick Henry, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, to commemorate the marriage of the fourteen-year-old prince to the nine-year-old Mary Henrietta Stuart, daughter of King Charles I of England. The wedding took place on 12 May 1641 in London, and the work is among Anthony van Dyck's final paintings before his death later that year. The painting entered the collection of the House of Orange-Nassau (collection of William V, Prince of Orange) and was later transferred to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains today.

Overview

Anthony van Dyck's 1641 oil painting captures the dynastic union of nine-year-old Mary Stuart, daughter of King Charles I, and fourteen-year-old Willem II, Prince of Orange. This full-length double portrait commemorates their marriage, which took place in London on May 12 of that year. The subjects are depicted hand-in-hand, a traditional gesture symbolizing their bond.

Maria Stuart en Willem II
Maria Stuart en Willem II, Anthony van Dyck

Artist & collection

Portrait of Anthony van Dyck

Artist

Anthony van Dyck

Sir Anthony van Dyck (; Dutch: Antoon van Dijck; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist, who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart?

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart was painted by Anthony van Dyck in 1641-01-01.

Where can I see William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart?

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart is held by collection Willem V Prince of Orange Nassau.

What movement is William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart?

William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart?

Museum-quality prints of William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.