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Margaret of Austria married Philip III in 1599 after Philip II chose her from among the women of the Austria-Styria family. The marriage was planned to coincide with that of infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia and archduke Albert. Margaret was born in 1584 and when she arrived in Spain in April 1599, she had already been married by power of attorney in Ferrara. She was known for her discretion and virtue
Margaret, who married Philip III in 1599, was the daughter of the Archduke of Bavaria. In this portrait by Pantoja de la Cruz -the most representative painter of the reign- she wears the so-called “Rich jewel”, a dynastic heirloom comprising the diamond known as “El estanque” (The Pool) and the famous large pearl known as “La peregrina” (The Pilgrim).
At the German Imperial court, into which Queen Margaret of Austria (1584-1611) was born, portraits of royalty were often included in religious scenes; these paintings were known in Spanish as portraits “a lo divino”. This canvas, which was commissioned by the queen herself, shows three of her sisters, together with their mother, the Duchess of Styria.
