Catherine de Medici, Wife of Henry II of France
1582
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From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman in fancy 16th-century clothes. She wears a high collar with ruffles, a star-studded dress, and a dark hat. Her hands rest on a ledge, and behind her is a window showing a distant castle or town. The border looks like carved wood with swirls and leaves. The text at the bottom names her as *Catherine Regina Henrici II*, which means she was married to a French king. The artist used fine lines to show shadows and fabric folds, making it look almost like a drawing. Want to see how this style works? Check out engraving.
