Portret van Maria Adelheid van Savoye, hertogin van Bourgondië 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk produced this print of Maria Adelheid of Savoy, Duchess of Burgundy, in Amsterdam, likely between 1696 and 1711. The piece tells us much about the cultural politics of the time. The Duchess is depicted with a Cupid figure presenting a mirror that reflects the Duke, her husband. This imagery emphasizes the importance of dynastic marriage in cementing political alliances in 17th and 18th century Europe. Maria Adelheid married into the French royal family, linking the House of Savoy with the powerful Bourbons. Schenk, working in the Dutch Republic, was well-positioned to capitalize on the market for these kinds of images, since the Dutch Republic was a major center for printmaking and international trade in early modern Europe. To fully understand this print, one could investigate the history of the House of Savoy, the role of women in dynastic politics, and the printmaking industry in the Dutch Republic. By studying the social and institutional contexts of this artwork, we can understand its historical significance.