"Philip I of Castile made his expectations for the painter perfectly clear: His daughters Eleanor and Isabella, positioned to the left and right of his son Charles, were not to appear pale or sickly. Instead, they were to embody vibrant life rosy-cheeked, dressed in splendid garments, and as beautiful as can be. The painting, completed in 1502, was then replicated multiple times"
"Dyballa also draws attention to the coats of arms above the children's heads. "Charles, the future Charles V, has a full coat of arms above him. His sisters' crests, however, have a blank left fieldmeant to be filled in with the coat of arms of their future husbands." Boys from noble families were also groomed early for their future roles, and were often depicted in childhood wearing royal guard uniforms or armor like seasoned commanders."
""When the candidates eventually met, historical accounts suggest that the disappointment was sometimes greater on one side than the other," art historian Katrin Dyballa told DW. After all, the portraits were often highly flattering. This painting is a prime example of the marriage politics that the Habsburgs a powerful noble dynasty in Austria pursued for centuries to expand their power, noted Dyballa. Even in early childhood the sisters were just four and nearly two years old the girls were being marketed on the marriage stage."
Philip I of Castile required his daughters Eleanor and Isabella to be painted vibrant, rosy-cheeked, splendidly dressed, and beautiful rather than pale or sickly. The 1502 family portrait of young Charles with his sisters was replicated and sent to other royal courts to present the daughters as highly desirable marriage candidates. Historical accounts indicate meetings sometimes produced disappointment because portraits were flattering. The coats of arms above the children show Charles's full arms while the sisters' crests have a blank left field to be filled with husbands' arms. Noble boys were groomed early and often depicted in armor. Medieval portraiture largely focused on religious themes, with depictions of Jesus on the Virgin Mary's lap common.
Read at www.dw.com
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