William II, Prince of Orange and Mary Henrietta Stuart 1650

Gerard van Honthorst's 1650 portrait of William II, Prince of Orange and Mary Henrietta Stuart, depicts the royal couple standing together, their refined attire and elegant postures indicative of their high status. The painting likely served as a commemorative piece, capturing the couple in a moment of unity, further emphasized by their interlocking hands. The rich, textured fabrics of their clothing and the meticulously rendered details of their features showcase Honthorst’s mastery of portraiture and his ability to portray a sense of intimacy and connection in the sitters. This Baroque-style portrait exemplifies the artist's preference for dramatic lighting, seen in the way light falls on the figures, highlighting their faces and the folds of their garments.