Anne d'Autriche 1666

Curator: This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Anne of Austria. Nanteuil, born in 1623, was a master of engraving, and this piece resides in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's a striking portrait; the oval frame, the fleur-de-lis—it all speaks of royalty. I'm immediately drawn to the almost unsettlingly direct gaze and the ornate cross pinned to her garment. Curator: The cross is the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit, a chivalric order associated with the French monarchy. Anne's role as Queen Consort and later Regent shaped France during a tumultuous period. Editor: Indeed. The subtle gradations Nanteuil achieves—the shadows defining her face, the delicate rendering of the pearls—those speak to a calculated projection of power, carefully constructed visual rhetoric. Curator: The inscription framing the portrait, "Anne, Infanta of Spain, Queen and Mother of the King," highlights her complex political identity and her crucial role in securing the Bourbon dynasty. Editor: It's a powerful reminder that portraits, beyond mere likeness, functioned as symbols of authority and enduring influence. A fitting image to unpack today.