Fotoreproductie van een gravure van Het onderwijzen van Maria de'Medici door Jean-Marc Nattier, naar het schilderij door Peter Paul Rubens before 1864

This engraving is after Peter Paul Rubens’ painting of the education of Marie de Medici, with Nattier responsible for the original painting. Here, the three graces are shown offering Marie wisdom, beauty, and charm. These figures, emblematic of classical ideals, remind us of Botticelli's "Primavera," where similar figures bestow blessings. The musical accompaniment serves as a metaphor for the harmony and order essential to good governance, evoking the ancient Greek concept of "musica universalis." The image as a whole echoes the Renaissance fascination with classical virtues, which often served as a visual framework for instructing and legitimizing royal figures. Images like these act as powerful cultural artifacts, reflecting and shaping our understanding of history, power, and the timeless human desire for knowledge and grace.