Bonhams 1793 : Frans Pourbus the Younger (Antwerp 1569-1622 Paris) Isabella Clara Eugenia, Archduchess of Austria (1566–1633), wearing black dress, heavy gold chains and white ruff, her red hair worn high on top of her head

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28 Jun 2012 14:00 BST London, Knightsbridge
Fine Portrait Miniatures
Back to auction 19942

Frans Pourbus the Younger (Antwerp 1569-1622 Paris)

Isabella Clara Eugenia, Archduchess of Austria (1566–1633), wearing black dress, heavy gold chains and white ruff, her red hair worn high on top of her head.
Oil on card, gilt-metal frame; together with a portrait miniature of a lady, wearing grey dress, white chemise and black veil (School of Bernard Lens), gilt-metal frame.
Oval, 44mm (1 3/4in) and 72mm (2 13/16in) high respectively (2)
Provenance: The former sold Bonhams, London, 19 February 2008, lot 64; The latter sold Christie's, London, 5 June 2007, lot 119.

Sold for £1,125 inc. premium

Footnotes

Isabella was the eldest of two daughters born to Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) and his third wife Elisabeth of Valois (1545-1568).

From the age of two, Isabella had been promised to marry the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II (1552-1612) but having declared that he had no intention of marrying anybody twenty years later, Isabella eventually married his younger brother, Archduke Albert of Austria (1559-1621) in 1599. The couple ruled the Spanish Netherlands from their influential court at Brussels and actively championed the region's cultural and artistic identity which came to be known as the 'Flemish Baroque'. The Spanish Netherlands thrived in a new era of independence, peace and economic stability under the joint leadership of the Archdukes. When Albert died in 1621, the Spanish Netherlands were returned to formal Spanish control, Isabella joined the Third Order of St Francis and was appointed Governor of the Netherlands on behalf of Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665).

Auction Notices

Please note, the miniature attributed to the 'School of Bernard Lens' in this lot, is housed within a gilt-metal mount and not a gilt-metal frame as stated online.

Category: Fine Art / Portrait Miniatures

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