On-line gallery
- Reference number
- E00262
- Author
- Leoni, Leone (Italian); Leoni, Pompeo (Italian)
- Title
- Bust of Maria of Hungary
- Chronology
- Ca. 1554
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 94 cm x 53 cm x 37 cm - 112,6 kg
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Somewhat larger than life-sized,
Maria of Hungary appears wearing a
widow's headdress, in a manner very
similar to the full-length
sculpture Leone Leoni also made of
her (E263), which is in the Prado
Museum as well.
The pedestal is made from the same
piece of marble, with various
Renaissance decorations, including
garlands, sphinxes, inverted
pyramids and a winged seraph on the
front.
Leoni made various similar busts of
the same queen in both marble and
bronze for the portrait galleries
of several different clients. Such
galleries were quite customary in
courtly circles during the
Renaissance. The present bust was
sent by the artist to Brussels
along with other works for Maria of
Hungary, whose collection was later
inherited by his nephew, Carlos V,
becoming a part of the Spanish
Royal Collection.
