Henri III, King of France
Hieronymus (Jerome) Wierix Netherlandish
Not on view
When Henri appeared in public after he arrived in Venice in July 1574, the magnificence of his dress was a subject of great interest. Although this print was made about a decade after his visit, the verse along the bottom alludes to the king’s virtues and handsome bearing. Henri was equally famous for his elegant dress and for his relationships with both sexes. The fastidious rendering of his features here conveys an impression of calm authority that was important in the construction of his identity as a monarch. The printed frame suggests that the engraving could be pasted to a more durable surface or pinned to the wall.
Two prints in the collection show his entry (59.570.432 and 2015.53).
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