Artwork
Portrait of Maria Luisa of Savoy, Queen of Savoy
Portrait of Maria Luisa of Savoy, Queen of Savoy is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The work is an oil painting portraying a woman in a dimly lit interior.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting functions primarily as a royal likeness intended to document the monarch's appearance and status.
The work is a formal portrait depicting Maria Luisa of Savoy, who held the title of Queen of Savoy. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting functions primarily as a royal likeness intended to document the monarch's appearance and status. The composition focuses entirely on the figure of the queen, adhering to the conventions of early eighteenth-century court portraiture where the primary objective was the clear identification of the sitter rather than the inclusion of complex allegorical symbols or narrative backgrounds.
As a representation of royalty, the image serves to affirm her political position and dynastic identity within the House of Savoy.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support, measuring 185 cm in height and 140 cm in width. Created around the year 1700, the piece functions as a formal portrait of Maria Luisa of Savoy. While the specific handling of the brushwork is not detailed in the available records, the composition adheres to the conventions of royal portraiture from the early eighteenth century.
The medium of oil paint on canvas was standard for such significant court commissions of the period, allowing for the detailed rendering of regalia and facial features required for a depiction of the Queen.
History & Provenance
The work dates to around 1700–1701. It was painted in oil on canvas and depicts Maria Luisa of Savoy, Queen of Savoy, with a height of 185 cm and a width of 140 cm. By the early 21st century, the painting was held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is recorded as part of the University of Zaragoza holdings.
The Portrait of Maria Luisa of Savoy, Queen of Savoy is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. While the work is associated with the University of Zaragoza in some records, its primary location is identified as the Museo del Prado. The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 185 cm in height and 140 cm in width.
No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available records, nor is there documented exhibition history for this specific portrait.
Overview
The work is an oil painting portraying a woman in a dimly lit interior. She is attired in a heavy, silver‑and‑brown gown adorned with multiple ruffles, her hair styled in curls and secured with a modest blue bow at the back. One hand holds a fan, while the other rests against a dark, draped surface behind her, and the wall features two carved, frame‑like recesses.
Context
Executed in oil, the portrait reflects the 18th‑century courtly portrait tradition in which aristocratic sitters were presented in intimate, interior spaces. The use of chiaroscuro aligns the work with contemporary Baroque influences, while the detailed rendering of costume underscores the importance of sartorial display in royal portraiture.
Artist & collection
María Teresa archiduquesa de Austria
Kaiserin Amalie Wilhelmine (1673-1742) von Braunschweig-Lüneburg, Gemahlin von Joseph I.
Portrait of a Woman Standing in a Garden
María Luisa Gabriela de Saboya primera esposa de Felipe V
Isabelle de Bourbon, infante de Parme
Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth (1680-1741) im Alter von ca. vier Jahren
Maria Amalia de Saxony
Portrait of Catherine II
Marie-Louise de France (1728-1733), dite Madame Louise / Madame Troisième