Henrietta Maria of France - Alexander Browne

A fine mezzotint portrait of Henrietta Maria, Queen of England, after the original painting by Anthony van Dyck.

This mezzotint by Alexander Browne depicts Henrietta Maria, Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. The print is based on an original portrait by the Flemish master Anthony van Dyck, whose influence on the British court style during the seventeenth century was immense. Browne, a notable printmaker and publisher active in London, utilised the mezzotint process to capture the tonal depth and soft transitions characteristic of Van Dyck's oil paintings.

The Queen is shown in a three-quarter view, her posture formal yet composed. She wears a gown adorned with lace collars and pearl jewellery, reflecting the fashion of the Caroline era. Beside her, a crown rests upon a draped table, signifying her royal status. The background features a heavy curtain, a common device in portraiture of the period to suggest a grand interior setting. The use of mezzotint allows for a velvety darkness in the shadows, which contrasts with the highlights on the Queen's face and the reflective surfaces of her attire.

Alexander Browne operated from his shop at the Blue Balcony in Little Queen Street, where he produced various prints after contemporary and older masters. This work demonstrates the technical skill required for early mezzotint production, a medium that was gaining popularity in England for its ability to replicate the painterly qualities of original canvases. The inscription at the base provides the formal title and identifies the original painter, a standard practice for prints of this nature intended for collectors and the burgeoning art market of the late seventeenth century. The print remains a record of the visual culture of the Stuart court, documenting both the royal iconography of the time and the technical capabilities of the printmaking industry in London.