Plate 17: The exchange of the two princesses in Hendaye; allegorical scene with Anne of Austria and Elizabeth of Bourbon standing on a bridge holding hands from Recueil de la Galerie du Luxembourg

Art Historical Context

Step into the lavish world of 17th-century diplomacy with *Plate 17: The of the two princesses Hendaye* from the *Recueil de la Galerie Luxembourg*. This engraving captures allegorical moment from 1615, when Anne of Austria and Elizabeth of met on a bridge over the Bidassoa River Hendaye, France. The Spanish infanta Anne was handed over to France to wed Louis XIII, while the French princess Elizabeth traveled to Spain for Philip IV—sealing a pivotal alliance between the two powers and reshaping European politics. Originally derived from a painting in Peter Paul Rubens' monumental *Marie de' Medici Cycle* at the Luxembourg Palace, this scene exemplifies the Flemish master's Baroque style: dramatic compositions, rich symbolism, and idealized figures radiating grandeur. Engraved around 1707–10 by skilled artisans like Benoît Audran the Elder, Gaspard Duchange, and possibly Jean-Marc Nattier, the print faithfully reproduces Rubens' vibrant energy through intricate line work and tonal depth. As a reproductive engraving, it democratized access to elite art, preserving the gallery's splendor for collectors and scholars long after the originals' dispersal. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011), this 20-by-14-inch sheet invites us to ponder how art immortalizes history's turning points, blending regal poise with allegorical harmony.