Medieval Hair

half-face portraits by Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis

Quinten Massy, “The Virgin and Child Enthroned with Four Angels” (1506-1609)

A little bit about angels: http://www.medievalists.net/2015/06/14/angels-in-art-angels-through-the-ages/

Isabella of Hainault

Queen consort of France

Born 1170 – Died 1190 

Claim to fame: A condensed life - engaged at 1, married at 11, facing divorce at 14, a mother at 17 and dead at 19.

Isabella was the daughter of Count Baldwin of Hainaut and Countess Margaret of Flanders. At age one she was engaged to the future Count of Champagne but, at age eleven, was married instead to King Phillip II of France, taking the county of Artois as her dowry.

Though Isabella received praise from others, her husband resented her failure to provide him with an heir (she was fourteen at the time) and called a council in order to repudiate her. Isabella appeared dressed as a penitent in the town’s churches and thus gained the sympathy and support of the people. The repudiation did not go ahead as their separation would mean losing Artois.

Finally, at age seventeen, Isabella gave birth to the future King Louis VIII of France. When she was nineteen she faced and extremely difficult second pregnancy. She gave birth to twin boys but sadly neither Isabella nor the twins survived the traumatic labour.

She had been a popular queen and was greatly mourned in the capital.

British Museum

DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO. Giovanna Tornabuoni, 1488. oil and tempera on wood, 2’ 6" x 1’ 8".

the epitaph in the background quotes the Roman poet, Martial, “If only art could reproduce the character and spirit! In all the world a more beautiful painting will not be found."