Henri IV receives the Portrait of Marie de’ Medici, from the Marie de’ Medici cycle. Peter Paul Rubens. 1621- 1625 CE Oil on canvas.
Form
Heroic gestures, demonstrative spiraling figures
Mellow intensity of color, inspired by Titian and Caravaggio
Sumptuous full-fleshed women
Splendid costumes suggest an opulent theatrical production
Allegories assist in telling the story and mix freely with historical people
Function and Context
24 huge historical paintings allegorically retelling the life of Marie de’ Medici, queen of France, wife of King Henry IV; the series also contains three portraits
Commissioned by Marie de’ Medici, at the time the widow of Henry IV.
The series was placed in Marie de’ Medici’s home in Paris, the Luxembourg Palace
Henri IV Receives the Portrait of Marie de’ Medici
Henry IV is smitten by the portrait of his intended; the portrait is the center of a swirling composition
The portrait is held by Cupid and Hymen
Mythological gods Jupiter(symbolized by an eagle) and Juno(symbolized by a peacock) look down from below; they are symbolic of marital harmony. They express their support.
Royalty was considered demigods; the approval of mythological gods is in concert with their beliefs about themselves.
This represents the tradition of portraits being exchanged before the marriage
They were actually married by proxy in 1600
Behind Henry is the personification of France:
France is a female figure with a masculine helmet and manly legs
