Margherita Gonzaga (1591–1632), Princess of Mantua

Curatorial Overview

“Around the year 1600, artists working at courts across Europe developed a consistent international style characterized by a standard repertoire of poses and meticulously rendered court dress. In this example, the Flemish artist Pourbus crafted an elegant image of the young princess Margherita Gonzaga through details like her flexed fingers, flushed cheeks, and starched lace collar. The portrait likely played a role in royal marriage negotiations; in 1606, Margherita wedded Henri II, duke of Lorraine.”