Portret van Maria Theresia, koningin van Frankrijk 1660 - 1693

Lambert Visscher’s engraving captures Maria Theresa, Queen of France, within an oval frame, her status proclaimed by pearls, fabrics, and a coat of arms adorned with fleur-de-lis. These symbols speak to the divine right of kings and the power vested in the French monarchy. The fleur-de-lis, a stylized lily, echoes through history, from ancient heraldry to religious emblems of purity. Once a symbol of the French monarchy, it reappears in countless contexts, adorning flags, and architectural details across Europe. Its presence in this portrait reinforces the queen's lineage and legitimacy. Consider the act of portraiture itself, the desire to immortalize a face. It's a primal urge echoing the ancient tradition of death masks and effigies. The desire to capture and preserve an image is deeply rooted in our subconscious awareness of mortality and the need to transcend death through remembrance. The symbols in this portrait, like echoes in a hall of mirrors, reflect our collective memory. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, forever oscillating between the past and the present.