Portret van Jean Baptiste Rousseau (1671-1741) 1858

This is Hendrik Sluyter’s print portraying Margarita de Medici, made in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century. But it is, in fact, a reproduction of a 17th-century print by an Italian artist, and it reflects the social conditions of its own time as well as those of the Dutch Golden Age. Margarita was an Italian noblewoman, daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo II de Medici, and wife of Duke Odoardo Farnese of Parma. The print presents her as an icon of nobility and the epitome of feminine virtue and grace. The elaborate oval frame with ribbons, garlands, and inscriptions reinforces her elevated status and familial lineage. This print would have circulated amongst collectors, aristocrats, and scholars who were interested in preserving and celebrating European history. To fully appreciate this print, one would research the history of the House of Medici and the role of women in the 17th-century European courts. The meaning of this artwork depends on its social and institutional context.