Portrait of Henry IV, King of France

Description In an astonishing display of virtuosity and amusing artifice, the unknown miniaturist painted the French king twice, one image directly on top of the other (but in reverse and with a black jacket and black pearl ear ring) on the same side of one piece of glass. Then, a second piece of glass was fitted over the top image. The portrait was probably for a locket. Henry of Bourbon, king of Navarre (1553-1610), became King Henry IV of France (after converting from Protestantism to Catholicism) in 1589.

Exhibitions

• Small Northern European Portraits from The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. National Gallery of Art, Washington. 2000.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters