Date : approx. between 1622 and 1625
Dimensions : 2.95 m x 3.94 m
Material : Oil on canvas
Acquisition : Sénat (1815)
Ecole flamande - Période Baroque
| L'échange des deux princesses sur la rivière d'Andaye (9 novembre 1615)
Item 14 on 24
Flemish and Northern Painting
Painting (Tableau historique)
Area related
Spain
Site related :
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| Description |  |
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The Exchange of Princesses celebrates the double marriage of the Habsburg Infanta Anna of Spain to Louis XIII of France and Louis XIII's sister, Isabella Bourbon, to future king of Spain, Phillip IV on 9 November 1615. France and Spain present the young princesses, aided by a youth who is probably Hymen. Above them, two putti brandish hymeneal torches, a small zephyr blows a warm breeze of spring and scatter roses, and a circle of joyous butterfly-winged putti surround Felicitas Publica with the caduceus, who showers the couple with gold from her cornucopia. Below, the river Andaye is filled with sea deities come to pay homage to the brides: the river-god Andaye rests on his urn, a nereid crowned with pearls offers a strand of pearls and coral as wedding gifts, while a triton blows the conch to herald the event. The wedding, which was thought to secure peace between France and Spain, took place on a float midway across the Bidassoa River, along the French-Spanish border. In Ruben's depiction, the princesses stand with their right hands joined between personifications of France and Spain. Spain with a recognizable symbol of a lion on her helmet is on the left, whereas France, with fleur-de-lis decorating her drapery, is on the right. Anna, at age fourteen the older of the two, turns back as if to take leave of Spain, while France gently pulls her by the left arm. In turn, Spain can be seen taking the thirteen year old Isabella by her left arm.
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| Related article(s) | |
Commande de la reine Marie de Médicis à Rubens
En 1622, la reine Marie de Médicis, veuve d'Henri IV et mère de Louis XIII, commande à Rubens une suite de vingt-quatre tableaux pour décorer la galerie occidentale du premier étage de son palais du Luxembourg à Paris (actuel Sénat).
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