Title

Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France

Author

Straeten, Jooris van der

Active in Spain in 1554

Typology

School

Date

Dimensions

Technique

Support

Observations

The portrait of Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, created by Jooris (or Georges) van der Straeten in 1573, is an exceptional work, now preserved at the Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales in Madrid. This painting, the only signed piece by the Ghent-born artist, illustrates the refinement and idealized beauty of the queen at the age of nineteen, shortly after her marriage to Charles IX of France.

In this composition, Elisabeth stands in a dimly lit interior, marked by a sumptuous green velvet curtain and a credenza draped with crimson fabric. These elements emphasize her royal status and the wealth of her surroundings. She is dressed in a magnificent open gown adorned with ermine-trimmed sleeves, embodying grandeur and dignity. Her blouse, delicately decorated with pearls and buttons, evokes the style of her sister-in-law, Elisabeth of Valois, herself a fashion icon at the French court.

Trained in the workshop of the Flemish master Frans Floris de Vriendt, van der Straeten is distinguished by his use of vibrant colors, meticulous attention to detail, and elegant representation of his subjects. This portrait is part of the significant iconographic tradition of the House of Habsburg, blending dynastic majesty with careful attention to fashion and regalia.

Although some suggest that the work might be a copy of a portrait by François Clouet, the renowned painter of the Valois, van der Straeten’s signature provides direct testimony to his talent. This painting, dated 1573, remains an eloquent testament to the artistic and cultural sophistication of the Renaissance, while offering a fascinating glimpse of the young Queen Elisabeth of Austria.

It is currently displayed in the Kings’ Room of the monastery (November 2024).

Related links

Bibliography

• (2019): La otra Corte : mujeres de la Casa de Austria en los Monasterios Reales de las Descalzas y la Encarnación, Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, p. 96, il. 50.
• A. García Sanz and M.L. Sánchez Hernández (2009): Guide: Royal convents of Madrid: las Descalzas reales and la Encarnación, Patrimonio Nacional, Madrid, p. 37.
• J.J. Garcés (1969): El museo madrileño de las Descalzas Reales, Prensa Ibérica, Madrid, pp. 74-75.

Locations

• Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, Madrid (Spain) (Inventory number: 00612227)