Catherine of Braganza
Medium
Etching; first state of four (NH)
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 7/8 × 5 5/8 in. (17.5 × 14.3 cm) sheet cut and corners clipped
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1928
Accession Number
28.7.7
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This oval etching captures Catherine of Braganza in a three-quarter view, her gaze directed slightly to the side with a composed expression. Fine etched lines define her long, curling hair, parted at the center and adorned with a small bow, while an ornate lace collar rests over a dark gown. Draped fabric fills the background, and a crown appears at the left edge, all enclosed within a neat oval border on a sheet whose corners have been trimmed. Created in 1661, this first-state impression is the work of Wenceslaus Hollar. The print belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1928. As an early portrait of the Portuguese princess who would become queen consort of England, the etching reflects the refined printmaking techniques of the period and the diplomatic alliances that shaped seventeenth-century European courts. Its delicate line work and formal presentation invite viewers to consider both the sitter’s royal status and the artistry of the medium.
About the Artist
Princess Catherine of Braganza|Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian|Portuguese) · 1607 |1638 –1677 |1705
Bohemian, Prague 1607–1677 London|Portuguese, Alentejo 1638–1705 Lisbon, reign 1662–1685