Synopses & Reviews
In the early modern period, rulers demonstrated their power and influence through carefully curated andldquo;displayandrdquo;andmdash;their presence in court ceremonies, their palaces and their contents, and their portraits. and#160;Henrietta Maria of France (1609andndash;1669), queen consort of King Charles I of England, embraced these opportunities for display with particular flair. This richly illustrated book follows Henrietta Maria through and beyond the Bourbon and Stuart courts to chart her patronage and engagement with the visual arts, building works, and the luxury trade. It develops a powerful picture not just of the images, fashions, interiors, and buildings shaped by the queenandrsquo;s directorial influence but also of the political and religious factors that governed her choices and policies of court display. Her cultural patronage in particular emphasized her family honor, dynastic clout, Catholic piety, feminine virtue, and discerning taste. Erin Griffey analyzes the full spectacle of the queenandrsquo;s represented image, not only through the well-known portraits by Sir Anthony van Dyck but also through her rich bed ensembles, tapestries, jewelry, clothing, and devotional goodsandmdash;the objects that embodied and conveyed her royal power.
Synopsis
Henrietta Maria was queen consort of England and the wife of Charles I, and her acts of cultural patronage within the Stuart court are the subject of this illuminating volume.
About the Author
Erin Griffey is senior lecturer in art history at the University of Auckland.