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Lot Essay
This is one of a group of portraits of Margaret of Austria, Regent of the Spanish Netherlands, from the workshop of Bernard van Orley, who was from 1518 official court painter to the Regent. The artist's original prototype is unknown - if indeed there was one and the group are not based solely on a drawing - and the various versions differ considerably in quality. However, as Max Friedländer noted (loc. cit.) the quality of the present picture is evidently 'much superior' in comparison with the majority of the group. Certainly the delicacy of the present sitter's features, as well as the evidence of the fine underdrawing, would suggest that this was by one of the primary hands within Van Orley's workshop, and possibly under the direct supervision if not with the assistance of the master. Other examples of the composition include those in the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, Brussels; the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp; the Uffizi, Florence; and the City Art Gallery, Bristol.
The sitter was the daughter of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I and his wife, Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold. In 1483, as part of the Treaty of Arras, she was betrothed as a child to the Dauphin of France, later King Charles VIII; however, Charles subsequently renounced the treaty and Margaret was returned to her father in 1493. In 1497, she was married to the Infante of Spain (1478-1497), the son and heir of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, but he died after only six months. Finally, in 1501, she married Philibert II, Duke of Savoy (1480-1504), who died three years later; both her marriages were childless. A widow, Margaret was made Regent of the Netherlands (1507-1515) and guardian of her young nephew Charles (the future Emperor Charles V).
In the Netherlands, Margaret resided in Mechelen, where she established a small but impressive court at the Hof van Kamerrijk, gathering together painters, poets and musicians. As the principal intermediary between the Emperor and his subjects, she negotiated a treaty of commerce with England favourable to the Flemish cloth interests, and played an important role in the formation of the League of Cambrai in 1508. After his majority in 1515, Charles rebelled against her influence and removed her from her position, but he soon recognized her as one of his wisest advisers and she was reappointed Regent (1519-30). As one of her final achievements, together with Louise of Savoy, Margaret negotiated the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529, the so-called Ladies' Peace; she died the following year at Mechelen after appointing Charles V as her heir.
The sitter was the daughter of the Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I and his wife, Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, daughter and heiress of Charles the Bold. In 1483, as part of the Treaty of Arras, she was betrothed as a child to the Dauphin of France, later King Charles VIII; however, Charles subsequently renounced the treaty and Margaret was returned to her father in 1493. In 1497, she was married to the Infante of Spain (1478-1497), the son and heir of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, but he died after only six months. Finally, in 1501, she married Philibert II, Duke of Savoy (1480-1504), who died three years later; both her marriages were childless. A widow, Margaret was made Regent of the Netherlands (1507-1515) and guardian of her young nephew Charles (the future Emperor Charles V).
In the Netherlands, Margaret resided in Mechelen, where she established a small but impressive court at the Hof van Kamerrijk, gathering together painters, poets and musicians. As the principal intermediary between the Emperor and his subjects, she negotiated a treaty of commerce with England favourable to the Flemish cloth interests, and played an important role in the formation of the League of Cambrai in 1508. After his majority in 1515, Charles rebelled against her influence and removed her from her position, but he soon recognized her as one of his wisest advisers and she was reappointed Regent (1519-30). As one of her final achievements, together with Louise of Savoy, Margaret negotiated the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529, the so-called Ladies' Peace; she died the following year at Mechelen after appointing Charles V as her heir.