Portret van Maria Theresia, koningin van Frankrijk 1818 - 1848

Jacopo Bernardi made this print of Maria Theresa, Queen of France, in the 19th century. It offers insight into how monarchy was remembered in France after the revolution. Though Bernardi was working in the 1800s, the image looks back to the 1600s, the era of Maria Theresa. Note the fleur-de-lis pattern on her dress, the symbol of the French royal family. By depicting the Queen in period attire, the artist makes clear references to the culture of monarchy. The purpose is to create an idealized version of the past, reminiscent of an era of stability and tradition. To understand images like this better, historians look at a wide range of sources, from fashion plates and political cartoons, to official records. By understanding the context, we can better understand the image's cultural work.