Dimensions: height 191 mm, width 138 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This portrait of Maria II Stuart was etched by Jacob Gole in the late 17th century. Framed by inscriptions, Maria is adorned with symbols of power: the crown, pearls, and ornate garments, each element deeply rooted in the visual language of royalty. Consider the pearl necklace. Beyond mere adornment, pearls have been associated with purity and tears across cultures. The pearl, born from the oyster’s suffering, mirrors the trials of leadership. In Botticelli's Venus, pearls allude to divine beauty, yet in funerary portraits, they symbolize mourning and remembrance. The weight of queenship, balanced between splendor and sorrow, persists through history. In viewing this portrait, we are not merely seeing an image of a queen but engaging with symbols that stir deeply embedded cultural memories, echoing through time.
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