Portret van Catharina van Braganza, koningin van Engeland 1679 - 1717

This is a portrait of Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England, made by Abraham de Blois, a Dutch artist, in the late 17th or early 18th century. The print depicts Catherine in an oval frame, adorned with her royal coat of arms. This image speaks to the politics of monarchy, and the ways in which images were deployed to reinforce power. Consider the conventions of royal portraiture that De Blois employs. The pose, the dress, and the framing device all contribute to an image of power and authority. As historians, we can research the political context of this image. We could look at the history of the English monarchy, and the role of Catherine of Braganza as Queen. We might also investigate the history of portraiture and the ways in which images have been used to legitimize political power. This print reminds us that art is always made within specific social and institutional contexts.