Portrait of Maria Louisa van Hessen-Kassel, called Maaike-Meu. Widow of the Stadtholder of Friesland John Willem Friso, Prince of Orange-Nassau c. 1720 - 1756

The German artist Johann Philipp Behr created this oil on canvas portrait of Maria Louisa van Hessen-Kassel, also known as Maaike-Meu, sometime before 1756. The painting is a fascinating example of wealth on display. The very support of the work, the canvas, required specialized production. The pigments would have been carefully ground and mixed. Look closely at the rich red velvet of Maria Louisa's cloak, and the intricate lace trimming her dress. These details speak volumes about the global trade networks that supplied these luxurious materials, and the skilled labor required to produce them. The artist has carefully rendered the textures and patterns, creating an illusion of depth and tactile reality. This kind of portrait was about more than just likeness; it was a carefully constructed image, intended to project power and status. By focusing on the material and making of this artwork, we can understand not only the artistic skill involved, but also the complex social and economic forces at play in its creation.