Huwelijk tussen Willem IV en Anna van Hannover 1734

Jacques Rigaud made this print of the Marriage between Willem IV and Anna van Hannover in 1733. The scene depicts the chapel within St. James's Palace in London, and the act of marriage as something highly performative, not just a union of two individuals. Rigaud made this print in England, which at this time was under the rule of George II, who is named in the Latin inscription at the bottom. This work reflects the social structures of its time, emphasizing the divine rights of royalty to govern the land and forge alliances through marriage. The sheer scale of the chapel, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, emphasizes the power and grandeur of the British monarchy. Balconies full of onlookers suggests a sense of theater. To gain a deeper understanding of this print, historical sources such as royal archives and genealogical records may be useful. Approaching art with an understanding of its institutional context reveals much about its social meaning.