Catalina Micaela - History Lab https://historylab.es Thu, 19 May 2022 14:58:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://historylab.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-icono-historylab-32x32.jpg Catalina Micaela - History Lab https://historylab.es 32 32 The Infanta Catherine Micaela https://historylab.es/the-infanta-catherine-micaela/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-infanta-catherine-micaela Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:28 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/la-infanta-catalina-micaela/ Portrait of the Infanta Catalina Micaela, a work by Alonso Sánchez Coello

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]]> Catherine Micaela, daughter of Philip II and Isabella of Valois, was born in 1567 in the Alcázar Palace in Madrid. Her childhood was parallel to that of her sister Isabella Clara Eugenia, both of whom spent long periods in the convent of the Descalzas Reales in Madrid under the care of their aunt Juana of Austria. In 1584, when Philip II had already annexed Portugal, he decided to secure the overland route to his Flanders states, which the House of Savoy was holding up. This sovereignty was ruled at the time by Prince Charles Emmanuel, who in 1585 became the husband of Catherine Micaela. After the marriage, celebrated in Saragossa, they both left for Turin. Her husband’s belligerence forced her to make many decisions on economic and even military matters. The training she received as a young woman with her father served her well, as her actions never seemed to be an abuse of power or a whim, as in the deliberations of the Council of State she was praised for “her prudence and great knowledge as well as her assiduity and diligence in resolving everything she undertakes”. The city of Turin also underwent various changes after the arrival of Catherine Michaela, as she personally took charge of the renovation of royal residences such as the Miraflores Palace and the Valentino Castle, as well as promoting the construction of devotional buildings such as Our Lady of Mondovi and the Sanctuary of the Capuchins. As a result of his great devotion, he sent copies of the Holy Shroud to various members of the House of Austria, as well as to the monastery of Guadalupe (Cáceres). During this period he personally chose his court portraitists, among them Jan Kraek, Cesare Arbassia and the Sadeler brothers. The Duchy of Savoy then became a very important cultural centre, bringing together literary figures of the stature of Torcuato Tasso and Gian Battista Guarini. She lived in Turin until her death in 1597 as a result of premature childbirth.

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]]> Miniature self-portrait https://historylab.es/miniature-self-portrait/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=miniature-self-portrait Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:28 +0000 https://historylab.es/2022/02/19/autorretrato-en-miniatura/ Miniature self-portrait of Sofonisba Anguissola, closed on 1556

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]]> Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1535-1625) was born in Cremona into a high-born family. She was educated according to the values associated with virtuous women in the 16th century and her training was based on a solid knowledge of literature, music, dance, drawing and painting. She excelled in the latter field and was admired by Michelangelo, the leading figure in Italian art. After visiting the family, Giorgio Vasari also confirmed the young woman’s mastery of drawing and painting. In 1559, at the age of fourteen, she arrived in Spain through the Duke of Alba and the Duke of Sessa, governor of Milan. At the court of Philip II she worked as a court lady to Queen Isabella of Valois until her death in 1568, after which she entered the service of the king’s daughters (Isabella Clara Eugenia and Catherine Micaela) and Queen Anne of Austria, the king’s fourth and last wife. He remained with them until 1573, when he left for good to return to his place of origin. This small parchment (now a pendant) depicts one of the artist’s most cultivated facets, the self-portrait. In her hands she holds a medallion with an inscription in Latin that reads: “The maiden Sofonisba Anguissola, represented by her own hand, from a mirror, in Cremona”.

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