Portrait of Princess Maria Louisa 1900

Ivan Mrkviсka painted this portrait of Princess Maria Louisa, who was the mother of King Boris III of Bulgaria. Born in the late 19th century, Maria Louisa navigated the constraints of royal expectation whilst shaping a path amidst societal transformation. The portrait merges secular and sacred representations, with the princess enthroned beneath the Virgin Mary. Mrkviсka frames Maria Louisa as both a regal figure and a maternal icon, reflecting the dual roles expected of royal women at the time. The irises on either side of her symbolize faith, hope, wisdom, courage, and admiration, acting as a symbolic representation of her virtues, as well as alluding to the symbolic language of flowers that was very popular in that period. This portrait serves as a cultural artifact, embodying the complex interplay of power, gender, and identity in the shaping of national identity. In visualizing royalty and motherhood, Mrkviсka captured the personal and public dimensions of Maria Louisa’s life.