Artwork
Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria is an ink print by the Baroque artist Dutch 17th Century. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Henrietta Maria is a small, circular portrait executed as an engraving taken from a silver medal. The image is set within a metal rim and presents a finely rendered female head with curly hair, a necklace, and a plain background. The inscription encircles the portrait, spelling the name in capital letters.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts Henrietta Maria, likely the queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland in the 17th century. As a medallic portrait, it serves both as a likeness and as a commemorative object, emphasizing her status through the inclusion of jewelry and the formal presentation of her name.
Technique & Style
The image was produced by engraving, a process in which lines are incised into a silver die and then inked to transfer the design onto paper. This method allows for delicate line work, evident in the rendering of hair and facial features, and was commonly employed for reproducing medal portraits for wider distribution.
History & Provenance
The engraving originates from a silver medal, a medium often used for official portraiture in the early modern period. While specific details of its creation and ownership are not recorded here, such pieces typically circulated among court circles and collectors interested in royal iconography.
Artist & collection
Artist
This Dutch printmaker made small, sharp engravings and etchings, mostly portraits and sea battles pulled from metal plates.
