The Medici Fountain was built in 1630 by Marie de Medici. Is there a book about King Henry and his future wife Marie de Medici? However, the artist was also an avid collector of both reproductions and original works, not only from the masters of the Italian Renaissance, but more predominantly from his contemporaries. These paintings of her parents in Marie de' Medici's reception hall look bleak in comparison to the portrait of Marie, where she is looking beautiful if not vain. The aging ruler, who was nearly two decades older than Marie, had been dirt poor for years, at least by royal standards. The last painting in the cycle, The Triumph of Truth, is a purely allegorical depiction of King Louis XIII and his mother, the Queen, reconciling before heaven. Originally the paintings were hung clockwise in chronological order, decorating the walls of a waiting room expanding from a royal apartment in Marie de' Medici's Luxembourg Palace. [2] The immortalizing of her life, however, seems to be the most apparent reason for the Queen's choice to commission a painter who was capable of executing such a demanding task. [1] The paintings now hang in the Louvre in Paris. Gortner, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici tags: innocence , medici 41 likes Like Love is a treacherous emotion. [35] Was this a common practice? She was accompanied by the Grand Duchess of Tuscany and her sister, the Duchess of Mantua, into the welcoming, allegorical open arms of a personified France, wearing a helmet and the royal blue mantle with the golden fleur-de-lis. After the death of the Duc de Luynes in December 1621, she gradually made her political comeback. As far as things went, Marie should have felt incredibly lucky to have escaped Concinis fate, but that didnt mean she was happy in her gilded cage. The return of Astraea to earth is symbolic of the embodiment of continuing Justice with the birth of the future king. Nevertheless, the Queen-Regent's policy caused discontent. When Rubens was commissioned to paint the Marie de' Medici cycle, he was quite possibly the most famous and skilled artist in Northern Europe, and was especially appreciated for his monumental religious works, commissioned by various councils and churches in the area. [38], To fully appreciate and value this particular cycle piece and the collection as a whole, there is one historical principle to take into account. Rubens did not include many of the negative aspects of the event, fearing that he would offend the Queen, which resulted in the paintings non-realistic nature. Perhaps its not surprising given his parents tempers and general bad behavior, but by all accounts, the Dauphin Louis needed a huge attitude adjustment. [16] She immediately banished her late husband's mistress, Catherine de Balzac d'Entragues, from the court. The theme of peace, which runs throughout the cycle, was indeed furthered not only in France but in Europe by the marriage alliances brokered by Marie for her children: Louis XIII married a daughter of the Spanish king, her daughter Elisabeth married the heir to the Spanish throne (the future King Philip IV), and her daughter Henrietta married Charles I of England. Marie is shown as Juno (Greek Hera) identified by the peacocks and chariot. Maria's uncle Ferdinando I de' Medici became the new Grand Duke of Tuscany and married Christina of Lorraine (granddaughter of the famous Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France) in 1589. [80], The Exchange of Princesses celebrates the double marriage of the Anna of Austria to Louis XIII of France and Louis XIII's sister, Princess Elisabeth, to future king of Spain, Philip IV on 9 November 1615. She wrote extensively, especially to her children and to other powerful European leaders. "The Golden Age of Marie de' Medici". [125] The Battle of Ivry on the East Wall of the gallery is a scene of Henry's most decisive battle to unify the city of Paris. [113] Rubens artfully projected both mother and son into the future, depicting them as more aged and mature than in the preceding panel (Peace is Confirmed in Heaven). Henriette hadnt kept her man around this long by being sweet and docile,and she showed her true colors to Marie in a devastating way.In reference to her money as well as her curves,Henriette took to spitefully calling Marie the fat banker to her face, just in case she needed reminding of why Henry had married her. Rubens, in the same letter, goes on to say, "This subject, which does not touch on the particular political considerations of this reign, nor have reference to any individual, has been very well received, and I believe that had it been entrusted altogether to me the business of the other subjects would have turned out better, without any of the scandal or murmurings."[91]. Indeed, she considered it a mercy when she decided to beat him only just enough to not cause any illness. [78] Being a crossing of Rur, Juliers was of great strategic importance for France and thus the French victory was chosen to be the glorious subject of Rubens' painting. In addition to her shabby palace, Marie also had to deal with Henrys cunning head mistress, Henriette dEntragues, who immediately despised her. Dancy Mason is the Editor-in-Chief at Factinate. He gazes up in gratitude, his left hand extended as he expresses his delight in his bride-to-be. WebTwelve years after these momentous affairs, Marie commissioned one of Europes most renowned artists, Peter Paul Rubens, to paint a series of 24 paintings about her life (today we refer to these as the Medici Cycle).These were designed to decorate the Luxembourg Palaceher enormous new residence in Paris. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [56], Throughout the depictions of Marie de' Medici's life, Rubens had to be careful not to offend either Marie or the king, Louis XIII, when portraying controversial events. She fell ill in June 1642 and died of a bout of pleurisy in destitution on 3 July 1642, a few months before Richelieu. This orb functions both as an allusion to the Roman orbis terrarum (sphere of earth) which signifies the domain and power of the Roman emperor, and as a subtle assertion of the claim of the French monarchy upon the imperial crown. There was great approval of the match, as the pope and many powerful Florentine nobles had been advocates of the marriage and had worked at convincing the king of the benefits of such a union. Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1968, Saward, Susan. [58] This particular image appears to carry significant weight in Rubens's iconographic program for the cycle, as it appears in six (one quarter) of the twenty-four paintings of the cycle. [103] Marie, desiring vindication for the death of her close personal friend, Concino Concini, would likely have intended a more direct personal allusion to Constable de Luynes, but Rubens preferring to keep to allegory, avoided specifics that could later prove embarrassing. In one of his letters the artist describes the theme as "so large and magnificent that it would suffice for ten galleries". [64] The other two having similar design measurements, it was consigned as the middle painting in a pseudo triptych of sorts as it adorned the halls of Marie de' Medici's Palais du Luxembourg. Marie served as regent of France between 1610 and 1617 during the minority of her son Louis XIII. The Henry cycle called for twenty-four monumental scenes of Henry's life depicting "the encounters he was engaged in, his combats, conquests, and sieges of towns with the Triumphs of said victories. Richelieu played an important role in her reconciliation with the king and even managed to bring the queen mother back to the Conseil du Roi. She is led and protected by a representation of France, and guided by illustrations of Night and Aurora. [17] At first, she kept the closest advisers of Henry IV in the key court positions and took for herself (1611) the title of Governess of the Bastille, although she entrusted the physical custody of this important Parisian fortress to Joachim de Chateauvieux, her knight of honor, who took direct command as a lieutenant of the Queen-Regent. [78] The Queen thrusts her arm high with an assembler's baton in hand. [115] This picture represents how time thus uncovers the truth in correspondence to the relationship between Marie and her son. The painting is separated into two distinct, but related scenes: the elevation of Henry IV to the heavens (his assassination on 14 May 1610 resulted in the immediate declaration of Marie as regent[65]) and the assumption of Marie to the crown. [37], Education of the Princess (16221625) shows a maturing Marie de' Medici at study. But the queen didnt pay her bills on time and Rubens had a lot of trouble collecting his due. She is conducted to the altar by the Cardinals Gondi and de Sourdis, who stand with her along with Mesieurs de Souvrt and de Bethune. Also symbolizing victory is the imperial eagle which can be seen in the distance. [22] From there, she fled on 19 July 1631 towards the city of trungt (in the County of Hainaut), where she slept before going to Brussels. However, even after Louis came of age at thirteen in 1614, the queen continued ruling in his stead. Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents. Rubens received the commission in the autumn of 1621. Rubens thus turned to mythological allusions, emblematic references, personifications of vices and virtues and religious analogies to veil an often unheroic or ambiguous reality. Within this context Rubens' approach to 'historical truth' may appear selective or, worse, dishonest, but he was neither a historian in the modern sense, nor a journalist; the Medici cycle is not reportage, but rather poetic transformation. WebHappy to read and share the best inspirational Marie De Medici quotes, sayings and quotations on Wise Famous Quotes. [68] It should be kept in mind that Rubens's energetic manner of placing all these allegorical themes is substantially resultant from classical coins as documented through communication with his friend and notable collector of antiquities, Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc. From petty paybacks to insane acts of karma, these bitter people somehow found the most ingenious ways. For example, how she overcomes the rebellions and the disorders of the State. What is also known as a parade boat, Rubens referencing Horace's boat, is adorned with a dragon on front and dolphins on the stern. Oh, but theres more. Key moment in the Medici cycle from the Louvre, Sarah R. Cohen, "Rubens's France: Gender and Personification in the Marie de Mdicis Cycle,", The paintings of Rubens and Van Dyck on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. This image is of, once again, Marie claiming her of regal authority yet was nonetheless the first step towards peace between mother and son. This painting was created on the cusp of the age of absolutism and, as such, one must remember royalty were considered above corporeal existence. He is shown in the center of the scene raising a flaming sword. Playing the tough love card, he forced her into refuge with his enemies in Spanish territories, thereby stripping her of her title of Queen Mother along with any pensions. Canvas from Frans Pourbus . Despite her nightmarish relationship with King Henry IV, Marie still managed to have no fewer than six children with the man, and coached them into some seriously high positions when they came of age. In October 1600, Marie and Henry marriedandthe ceremony was bizarre in more ways than one. In the Louvre, the Queen had a luxurious apartment on the first floor fitted out, then moved in 1614 to a new apartment on the ground floor, which she had adorned with panels and paintings by Ambroise Dubois, Jacob Bunel, Guillaume Dume, and Gabriel Honnet on the theme of Jerusalem Delivered of Torquato Tasso (whose translation by Antoine de Nervze was Marie's first reading in French). Sense some sinister foreshadowing here? Then, on May 13, 1610, he finally gave in and crowned heronly there was a disturbing reason behind this timing. Noted for her ceaseless political intrigues at the French court, her extensive artistic patronage[1] and her favorites (the most famous are Concino Concini and his wife, Leonora Dori Galiga), she ended up being banished from the country by her son and dying in the city of Cologne, in the Holy Roman Empire. WebThe Marie de' Medici Cycle is a series of twenty-four paintings by Peter Paul Rubens commissioned by Marie de' Medici, widow of Henry IV of France, for the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. In 1617, Louis XIII finally decided to take governing matters in his own hands at the age of fifteen and the queen was exiled to Blois. 206 There is in gardens a plant which one ought to leave dry, although most people water it. [110] Her larger, less obscured body is turned frontally on the picture plane, which emphasizes her importance. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [80] Rubens uses several methods to portray Queen Marie in precisely the light that she wanted to be seen, as her young son's guardian and wise advisor. On the 19th and 20 October, in 1587, at the Villa Medici in Poggio a Caiano, Grand Duke Francesco I and Bianca Cappello died. Although, surprisingly, Ruben's version is considered even less remarkable than the models. Now orphaned, Maria was considered the richest heiress in Europe.[7]. Though the painting shows Marie de' Medici's desire for security with the representation of the Temple of Security, the symbols of evil at bay, and the change of smoky haze to clarity, there is also underlying symbolism of unrest to the acceptance of the truce. Sadly, though, she had already made one fatal error. [19] Early in his career, Rubens studied under Flemish artists such as Otto van Veen,[20] but his most notable influences come from the time he spent in Italy where he studied ancient sculpture and the works of Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and Veronese. [89], Considering the haste with which Rubens completed this painting, his lack of specific reference to a golden age in his letter, and the existence of several contemporary depictions of Marie as a figure of Justice, most historians are content with the simpler allegorical interpretation which is more consistent both with Rubens's style and the remainder of the cycle.[90]. In fact, it was around this time she came up with the final, ridiculous scheme of her life. The Queen Marie is depicted in a humble way, yet the illustration implies her power over the military. When Marie first heard that the powerful King Henry IV of France was after her hand in marriage, she was smitten immediately. My dear, never give up a crown to anybody. Rule number one in queen school is to respect your crown. Practically her first act as Regent was to seek vengeance on Henriette dEntragues, banishing the bitter mistress from her presence and her court. Above the two stands Hymen who unites them. [9] (See #Henry IV Cycle below). Factinate is a fact website that is dedicated to finding and sharing fun facts about science, history, animals, films, people, and much more. A young woman in a bejeweled dress with a stiff lace collar gazes confidently out of a simply-framed, bust-length portrait placed at the very center of a large canvas. Marie didnt forget about her Italian cadre of friends when she was at the top, and she promoted Leonora Dori and her husband Concino Concini to high ranks, most flagrantly creating Concini as a Marshal of France despite the little fact that hed never fought in a single, solitary battle. COME ON. Rubens also added a barking dog, a common reference used to indicate or warn someone of foreigners who came with evil intention. Gortner, The lions pull the chariot (which is a pun on the name of the city), and in the chariot we see the allegorical figure of the city herself with a crown of her battlements: Lyons. [116] The two portraits are stylistically very different, and even out of place, from the rest of the paintings in the gallery. Set within a grand Italian-style architectural setting, the theme is somewhat sobering. Symbols and allegory appear throughout the painting. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. [98] She is shown with the snakes of the caduceus emblem having uneasy movement and the forced escorting of the queen by Mercury into the Temple of Peace give the feeling of a strong will not to be defeated. Also present are the three graces, Euphrosyne, Aglaea, and Thalia giving her beauty. And let me tell you, that was not a good idea. [1] Rubens, then court painter to the Duchy of Mantua under Vincenzo I Gonzaga,[7] had first met Marie at her proxy wedding in Florence in 1600. [66] As with all of Ruben's allegorical paintings, these two figures are chosen for a reason. [57], Also worthy of note in this painting is the first appearance of the orb as a symbol of the "all-embracing rule or power of the state". [29], As a narrative source for the Marie de' Medici cycle Rubens used an ancient genera of writing in which ideal kingship, and good government were explored. Hmm, wonder why Marie turned out so dysfunctional. The violence of these images would contrast nicely with the relative peace and regal quality of the scenes in the Marie de' Medici cycle. In a cruel twist of fate, her son Louisher constant obsession and enemypassed less than a year after her. 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