Portrait of Margaret of Savoy, Duchess of Mantua

Margaret of Savoy was the daughter of Carl Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and Catherine of Spain. In 1608 she was married to Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. During the same year Pourbus painted the Duchess 's full-length portrait. She is shown wearing her wedding attire against a background of splendid blue and brown drapery. The hem of her dress is richly decorated with embroidery depicting the ducal crown and the monogram "FGMA" (Francesco Gonzaga, Margaret). This work is typical of the genre of official portraits as it developed in the Spanish court during the second half of the 16th century and spread across all of Europe towards the beginning of the 17th century. The typical features of ...