Portrait of Anne of Hanover, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, Consort of Prince William IV 1753

Johann Valentin Tischbein painted this portrait of Anne of Hanover using oil on canvas. But let’s not overlook the other materials on display here. Look closely at the fur trim on her robe, the subtle sheen of her satin dress. And the lace, so intricately worked – probably by women working long hours, in conditions we can only imagine. These were the raw materials of power in the 18th century. They speak of global trade, which allowed the Dutch and other European elites to enjoy such finery. Consider the labor involved in procuring and assembling these precious things: the hunters, the weavers, the dressmakers. Tischbein’s real skill was in rendering these textures so realistically. Yet this artwork makes me wonder about all the other skillful hands that contributed to this vision of aristocratic elegance.