English School (c. 1700) - Queen Anne

- Oil on canvas. - This portrait of Queen Anne of England, painted in the context of the English Baroque, reflects the distinctive features of court painting of the period. Queen Anne, whose portrait features sumptuous clothing with ornamental details and a royal mantle, is depicted in a pose that emphasizes her dignity and power. The crown on her head, as well as her serene expression, present her as a powerful and wise sovereign, following the tradition of Baroque monarchical portraits that sublimate the grandeur of the monarch. This type of portrait reflects not only the political and social importance of the queen, but also the relationship between the monarchy and the arts in the Baroque period. During her reign (1702-1714), Anne was a great patron of the arts, promoting culture and artistic development in England. He was one of the figures who supported prominent artists of the time such as Sir Godfrey Kneller, responsible for several official portraits of the Queen, and Peter Lely, known for his portraits of the English court and royal ladies. Both painters, influenced by the trends of European Baroque, contributed to the consolidation of a realistic and detailed style in court portraits. Sir Godfrey Kneller, who became a court painter, was a master of the English monarchy, creating portraits that highlighted both royalty and the personality of the individual. Kneller's painting is characterized by a mixture of the formal and the emotional, where precise details, such as embroidery and jewels, capture the magnificence of the monarch. On the other hand, Peter Lely, another key painter of the period, specialized in portraits of great elegance, and his work focuses mainly on courtesans and members of the nobility. Lely used a warm colour palette and a soft style, which was reflected in the ideal figures and natural poses of his subjects. The portrait of Anne, in its impressive representation, highlights the relationship between the monarchy and the artists of the time, who, through their works, reinforced the image of power and authority of the queen. The attention to detail, such as the folds of the mantle and the ornamentation of the clothes, as well as the dramatic lighting that illuminates the queen's face, are typical elements of the Baroque, an artistic style that emphasizes the magnificence and power of monarchs. - Dimensions of the image without frame: 71 x 53 cm / 95 x 77 cm with frame. - Galerie Montbaron includes a technical sheet drawn up by a qualified art historian with all its lots. This form is sent in digital format and on request.