European Art and Old Masters

Note

Future King Philip II of Spain, then Prince of Astruias, married Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal in November 1543 when they were both sixteen years old. Philip’s paternal first cousin, Maria Manuela was one of ten children, and the only girl to survive to adulthood, although her own father outlived all of his children. Maria's dynastic wedding to Philip was considered one of the most opulent weddings in Spanish history. Within about a year, Maria became pregnant with the couple’s son. Although she did give birth to Don Carlos, she passed away due to delivery complications on July 12, 1545.

Princess Maria here is splendidly portrayed in grand attire by Spanish court painter de la Cruz, official court painter to Philip II. In this posthumous depiction of the mother of the future heir to the throne, Maria is shown wearing an elaborate three-tiered jewel which features two gemstones mounted in gold and linked together in chandelier style with a large pearl drop. It is La Peregrina, one of the most famous jewels in the history of the world, forever associated with the Spanish monastery, and famously featured in the Collection of Elizabeth Taylor. Once the largest pearl ever found, it is now considered among the largest perfectly symmetrical natural pear-shaped pearls in history. It remained a part of the Spanish Crown Jewels until Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, once installed as King of Spain, took it out of the country. is very similar to a pendant worn by Isabel de Aviz in a posthumous portrait painted by Titian in 1548. In the portrait, Queen Isabel wears it as a brooch but the pearl could be removed and added to necklaces and chockers.