Portrait of Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia (Anguissola) facts for kids
The Portrait of Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia is a famous painting from 1599. It was created by a talented Italian artist named Sofonisba Anguissola. She painted Isabella Clara Eugenia, who was a Spanish princess. A researcher named Maria Kusche confirmed who painted it in 1992. This beautiful oil painting belongs to the Museo del Prado museum. You can see it today at the Spanish Embassy in Paris.
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How the Painting Was Made
In 1599, Princess Isabella Clara Eugenia was traveling to Brussels. She stopped in Genoa, Italy, for a few days. During this time, she spent many hours with the artist, Sofonisba Anguissola. They chatted and remembered stories from Isabella's childhood.
Sofonisba Anguissola was a special artist for the Spanish royal family. She had also painted Isabella's mother, Elisabeth of Valois. This shows how important Anguissola was at the Spanish court.
What Isabella is Wearing
In the painting, Isabella looks very grand. She is wearing a fancy court dress. Around her neck is a large, pleated ruff, which was a popular fashion at the time. She also wears a beautiful pearl necklace. A gold chain hangs down, with a small figure of a saint, possibly Francis of Assisi or Anthony of Padua.
Isabella's waist is circled by a girdle. This belt is decorated with shiny pearls, rubies, and diamonds. Her right hand rests gently on the back of a chair. In her left hand, she holds a delicate handkerchief with lace edges.
Finishing the Painting
Princess Isabella only stayed in Genoa for a short time. This was not enough time for Sofonisba Anguissola to finish the portrait. So, Isabella asked the artist to send the painting to her once it was complete.
However, the painting did not go directly to Isabella in Vienna or Brussels. Instead, it was sent to Madrid. It was a gift from Isabella to her step-brother, who would later become Philip III of Spain. The painting was listed in a collection of artworks at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid. This list was made after the death of Philip II of Spain, Isabella's father. At that time, the artist's name was not written down with the painting.
Later History of the Painting
The painting had an interesting journey over the years. In 1835, it was likely taken from Infante Sebastian of Portugal and Spain. This happened because he supported a political group called the Carlists.
Later, in 1865, the painting appeared in a museum catalog. It was listed as number 212 in the Catalogo del Museo de la Trinidad de Cruzada Villaamil. At this time, people thought a Spanish painter named Alonso Sánchez Coello had painted it. The catalog also listed a portrait of a man, which was the same size and also thought to be by Coello.
In 1861, the Portrait of Infanta Isabella and other paintings were returned to Sebastian. Then, in 1868, the painting went to its current owner, the Museo del Prado. It has been displayed at the Spanish Embassy in Paris since 1882.
See also
In Spanish: Retrato de la Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia (Anguissola) para niños
