Portrait of Infanta María Ana de Austria
Felipe Diriksen, Portrait of Infanta María Ana de Austria, 1630, oil on canvas, Museum Purchase: Funds provided by William and Helen Jo Whitsell; European and American Art Council; John S. Ettelson Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation; Nani S. Warren; May Van Dyke Fund; Laura Meier; Marilyn Ross Podemski; Janet Geary; Ann Flowerree; Kent and Carol Ann Caveny; James FitzGerald and Karen Howe; Shawn and Lisa Mangum; George and Barbara Dechet; Sharon and Keith Barnes; European Art Purchase Fund, public domain, 2017.59.1
This work is on view.
- Title
Portrait of Infanta María Ana de Austria
- Artist
- Date
1630
- Medium
oil on canvas
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
82 5/8 in x 46 1/2 in
- Collection Area
European Art
- Category
Paintings
- Object Type
painting
- Culture
Spanish
- Credit Line
Museum Purchase: Funds provided by William and Helen Jo Whitsell; European and American Art Council; John S. Ettelson Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation; Nani S. Warren; May Van Dyke Fund; Laura Meier; Marilyn Ross Podemski; Janet Geary; Ann Flowerree; Kent and Carol Ann Caveny; James FitzGerald and Karen Howe; Shawn and Lisa Mangum; George and Barbara Dechet; Sharon and Keith Barnes; European Art Purchase Fund
- Accession Number
2017.59.1
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
- Location
This splendid example of court portraiture from the Golden Age of Spain shows María Ana (1606–1646), the beloved sister of King Philip IV. The Infanta (princess) was depicted on the eve of her departure from Madrid in late 1629 to marry Ferdinand III, King of Hungary and Bohemia. On the death of his father in 1637, the couple became the Holy Roman Emperor and Empress, the leaders of the Catholic monarchs of Europe.
Felipe Diriksen came from a Flemish family of artists in service to the Spanish monarchy since the sixteenth century. His formal presentation of the Infanta standing and engaging the viewer directly was mandated by tradition, as was her impassive expression, an essential sign of elevated status in court decorum. Her prestige is underscored by the magnificent dress richly embroidered in gold and silver and studded with gems. At this moment of realism in art, the painting shows the mark of the hoop supporting the dress. Pinned to her bodice is one of greatest jewels in the Spanish royal collection. It featured a large diamond and a perfect pear-shaped pearl, later known as La Peregrina, which was famously purchased by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969.
- Exhibitions
2023 Throughlines: Connections in the Collection Portland Art Museum
