Margaret of Austria on Horseback
1612
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1612
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a busy, dramatic scene with a woman on horseback at the center. She’s dressed in fancy armor and a flowing cape, surrounded by a crowd of people in hats and robes. Some look worried, others point or gesture—it’s chaotic but full of movement, like a story unfolding. The horse’s reins are held by a figure on the ground, adding to the tension. The background is packed with details, like a woven texture that makes it feel like a stage. This is an example of etching, a printmaking technique where artists scratch into metal plates.
![Entry into Ferrara [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/0463f4a9351848b0/thumb.webp)
![The Betrothal of Margaret of Austria to Philip III, King of Spain [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/509229b9feb3b80f/thumb.webp)
![Margaret of Austria Giving Audience to a Nobleman [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/86ac2347af277f00/thumb.webp)