DRAWING ROOM.
DRAWING ROOM.
DRAWING ROOM.
DRAWING ROOM.
TWO PORTRAITS OF CHILDREN OF SIRJOHN THYNNE.Attributed to Holbein.
TWO PORTRAITS OF CHILDREN OF SIRJOHN THYNNE.Attributed to Holbein.
TWO PORTRAITS OF CHILDREN OF SIR
JOHN THYNNE.
Attributed to Holbein.
Dressed in a dark brown frock. Sleeves of a lighter material. White pinafore. Holding in one hand a jewelled cross, in the other, two cherries. Inscription in background, ‘xv. MaiiMDLXXII.ætatis mens. x.’
An infant in a white dress, richly brocaded. Close cap and bourlet or pudding. Jewelled chain and cross round the neck. Rattle in the left hand. Inscription, ‘viii. Octob.MDLXIIII., ætat. mens. vi.’
No. 95.
FRANCIS THE FIRST, KING OF FRANCE, ANDHIS QUEEN, ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.Painter doubtful.FRANCIS, BORN 1494, DIED 1547. ELEANOR, DIED 1558.
FRANCIS THE FIRST, KING OF FRANCE, ANDHIS QUEEN, ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.Painter doubtful.FRANCIS, BORN 1494, DIED 1547. ELEANOR, DIED 1558.
FRANCIS THE FIRST, KING OF FRANCE, AND
HIS QUEEN, ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.
Painter doubtful.
FRANCIS, BORN 1494, DIED 1547. ELEANOR, DIED 1558.
King:—Red and white slashed dress. Feathers and jewels in his cap.
Eleanor:—Blue and white embroidered dress. Slashed cap with jewels and feathers. Holding the King’s hand, and in her other a Caduceus with bells, issuing from an artichoke or pine cone. A jester in the background.
HE was the son of Charles d’Orleans, Duke of Angoulême, by Louise de Savoie. He married, first, the Princess Claude, daughter of LouisXII., and succeeded his father-in-law on the throne of France. His second wife was Eleanor of Austria, sister to CharlesV., Emperor of Germany. For many years this picture has been erroneously named FrancisI.and his mistress, but late researches prove the female portrait to be that of his second wife, Eleanor of Austria, and that it was painted as a commemoration picture, at the time of the marriage,—the Caduceus, the emblem of peace, recording that of Cambray, ‘La Paix des Dames.’
Eleanor of Austria was the daughter of Philip, Archduke of Austria, by ‘Mad Joan,’ as she was called, (the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,) and consequently sister to CharlesV., Emperor of Germany.
She was much admired at the Imperial Court, and Frederick, brother to the Elector Palatine, no sooner sawthan he fell in love with her, and the affection was reciprocal; but Charles, discovering their intimacy, exiled Frederick, and hastened to give his sister in marriage.
Emanuel, King of Portugal, surnamed ‘The Fortunate,’ had governed his kingdom well, but he was ill-calculated to take the fancy of the beautiful young Princess, still less to drive out the image of a former lover. He was misshapen, and far advanced in years, but he treated Eleanor with great consideration. He did not survive his marriage above two years, leaving his widow with two children. It may easily be conjectured that the hand of Eleanor, gifted as she was with a large dower and great personal charms, was eagerly sought by many illustrious personages, but her brother appeared to favour the suit of the Connétable de Bourbon.
The wars which intervened, however, changed these projects after FrancisI.had been taken prisoner by CharlesV.at the battle of Pavia, the peace of Cambray was concluded between them, called frequently ‘La Paix des Dames,’ because negotiated by Margaret of Austria, the Emperor’s aunt, and Louise of Savoy, the King of France’s mother, who had been Regent during her son’s absence and captivity. One stipulation was the union of the fair young widow with FrancisI., and the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp. Eleanor, indeed, presided at Court as Queen in all the ceremonies, but neither her mental nor personal charms made much impression on the heart of the King, who was at that moment entirely subjugated by his mistress, the Duchesse d’Étampes. This beautiful, but bad and inordinately ambitious woman, who was designated as ‘La plus belle des sçavantes, et la plus sçavantes des belles,’ had been one of the Queen-Mother’s maids of honour. The King married her to an old courtier, and created her Duchesse d’Étampes. She was of an intriguing spirit, fostered discord, and interfered in political measures, always working counter to the Queen, whostrove to keep peace, especially between her brother and husband.
The Duchess also hated the Dauphin, (afterwards HenryII.,) and between her and the famous Diane de Poictiers (already firmly established in the favour of the Prince) the spirit of rivalry raged fiercely.
When HenryII.succeeded to the throne the all-powerful Diane exiled the Duchesse d’Étampes, whose downfall was complete. Amid all the pomp of the Court, Queen Eleanor had reason to regret her quiet life at Lisbon, where she was at least admired and respected. When Francis died, his widow went to reside, first in the Netherlands, and then in Spain. She died at Talavera, and was buried in the Escurial.
ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.BORN 1498, DIED 1558.Black and white dress and head-dress, both richly ornamented withpearls and diamonds.
ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.BORN 1498, DIED 1558.Black and white dress and head-dress, both richly ornamented withpearls and diamonds.
ELEANOR OF AUSTRIA.
BORN 1498, DIED 1558.
Black and white dress and head-dress, both richly ornamented with
pearls and diamonds.
SISTER to CharlesV., Emperor of Germany. Married first the King of Portugal, and secondly the King of France.
No. 97.
MAXIMILIAN EMPEROR OF GERMANY.By Albert Dürer.BORN 1459, DIED 1519.Head. Furred dress and cap. Collar and badge of Golden Fleece. Golddiapered background.
MAXIMILIAN EMPEROR OF GERMANY.By Albert Dürer.BORN 1459, DIED 1519.Head. Furred dress and cap. Collar and badge of Golden Fleece. Golddiapered background.
MAXIMILIAN EMPEROR OF GERMANY.
By Albert Dürer.
BORN 1459, DIED 1519.
Head. Furred dress and cap. Collar and badge of Golden Fleece. Gold
diapered background.
THE son of FrederickIII., Emperor of Germany, by Eleanor of Portugal. In his childhood he was nicknamed ‘The Dumb,’ from the difficulty he had in articulating; although in after years he was remarkable for the sweet tone of his voice. A romantic story is told in connection with him and the beautiful Princess he afterwards married.
Charles the Bold, the last Duke of Burgundy, had been much struck with the young Archduke (in an interview with the Emperor) when Maximilian was only fourteen, and made so vivid a description of his appearance and promising qualities as to interest the fancy of his fair daughter and influence her future choice. On the death of her father, Mary, (then Duchess of Burgundy,) finding herself involved in a war with France, and a series of difficulties with her Flemish subjects, felt the importance of securing a strong firm spirit, to protect and counsel her.
Amid the crowd of suitors of all nations who competed for the hand of the richest heiress in Europe, the fairest Princess in Christendom, she selected the young Archduke Maximilian.
He began his married life by a war with LouisXI.of France, but it was not of long duration. His good andbeautiful wife survived her marriage but two years, dying from the effects of a fall from her horse while engaged in her favourite pastime of hawking; she left a son and a daughter.
On her death the States of Flanders, regarding the Archduke with great distrust and jealousy as a foreigner, rose in revolt, and even disputed with him the guardianship of his own children. Maximilian’s life, indeed, was one of continual warfare, but though a brave, he was not considered on the whole a very successful General. He at one time formed an alliance with France against England, and at another with England against France: now friendly with, now opposed to, the Swiss, the Venetians, and others. On succeeding to the Imperial throne, he married, as his second wife, Bianca Maria, sister of Galeazzo Sforza, Duke of Milan, who brought him a large dower.
This match was most distasteful to the proud Germans, who refused to recognise the ‘Bastard’ as Empress, and threatened that, in the event of her having children, they should not be recognised as Princes of the blood-royal. But (perhaps fortunately for herself) Bianca was childless.
This union with an Italian led Maximilian into further warfare. He formed an alliance with the Pope, with his brother-in-law the Duke of Milan, and several States of Italy, to arrest the progress of the King of France, then marching on Naples, but this undertaking was not successful in the end. His energetic and ambitious spirit involved Maximilian, not only in constant wars, but caused him to take part in all the struggles of the day, religious and political. He was a man of remarkable vigour, learning, and skill in all martial exercises, but renowned for his extravagance, which brought him into so many straits that he gained the nickname of ‘Sans Argent,’ and was often without the means of defraying the pay of his soldiers. He helped to form the celebrated League of Cambray, and presided at the Diet of Worms, etc. etc.He admired the manly and independent spirit of Luther, and showed himself no ways averse to the reform of Church abuses, although he did not survive the movement long enough to take a decided part on either side.
His health was now fast declining, and strange fancies took possession of his mind. Being dissatisfied with the construction of a palace he had ordered at Innsprück, he said, ‘I will build myself another house,’ and sending for a carpenter, told him to make a coffin with all speed. For four years this ghastly reminder accompanied him in all his marches and wanderings. Maximilian died at Wels, in Upper Austria, it is said his death was accelerated by eating too freely of melon! Finding his end approaching, he prepared for it, with much calmness; making his will, giving the most eccentric orders concerning his interment, and joining with fervour in the prayers for the dying which were being offered up in his presence. His body was at a later period transferred to Innsprück, where the Emperor FerdinandI.erected a magnificent tomb to his memory. It is of white marble, representing in high relief the principal events of his most eventful life, while on either side of the mausoleum, noble statues in bronze of illustrious sovereigns, knights, and dames of all ages and nations, form a body-guard round Maximilian’s last resting-place.
He had only two children, Philip, afterwards Emperor of Germany and King of Castille, in right of his wife, ‘Mad Joan,’ as she was called, (the only child of Ferdinand and Isabella,) by whom he had CharlesV., and Ferdinand, who both succeeded to the Imperial throne. Maximilian’s only daughter, Margaret, was sent on the death of her mother to France, to be educated with the children of LouisXI., who designed the little heiress as bride for the Dauphin Charles. The betrothal took place with great pomp and ceremony when Margaret had attained the advanced age of three years. Butin 1491, Charles, who had then succeeded his father as King of France, resolving on an alliance with Anne, heiress of Brittany, sent his little child-wife back to her father, an indignity which Maximilian resolved to wipe out in French blood.
Margaret afterwards married John Infant of Spain, and secondly Philibert Duke of Savoy, and she eventually became Governess of the Netherlands.
Albert Dürer was much esteemed not only by the Emperor Maximilian, but by his successors Charles and Ferdinand.