Margaret of Bavaria

The work belonged to a series of at least eight portraits, depicting the four dukes of the second house of Burgundy and their respective wives. The Museo del Prado keeps four portraits from this series: Margaret III (P006719) Countess of Flanders and wife of Philip the Bold; Margaret of Bavaria (P006721), Duchess of Burgundy and wife of John the Fearless; and the couple Isabella of Bourbon and Charles the Bold (P006718; P006721). Evidently, the third generation of dukes, originally represented by the portraits of Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal, is missing. Judging by the position of the sitters (the man faces to the right and the women to the left), we can assume that the series was intended to be exhibited in pairs. During the 16th and 17th centuries, galleries displaying portraits of distinguished personalities achieved considerable success and were often found in both noble and religious establishments, thus ensuring the preservation of the of the sitters in memory.

In this portrait, Margaret of Bavaria can be recognised by the inscription ‘Margaret. Bavaria. Alber’, i.e. Margaret of Bavaria, daughter of Albert, Count of Holland. The sitter is wearing a metallic-looking golden bonnet covered by a transparent veil. The exact model for this portrait is unknown, although the duchess´s unusual headdress is similar to that of the historical portrait in which the same duchess is depicted, in the Museum of Fine Arts of Ghent.