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| Las Meninas / The Ladies-in-Waiting - Diego Velázquez (1599-1660, Spanish) - oil on canvas (318 × 276 cm) in 1656 - Museo del Prado (Madrid) |
The young Infanta Margaret Theresa is surrounded by her entourage. She was the elder full-sister of the future Charles II (see [B03]).
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| The painting shows a large room in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid during the reign of King Philip IV (1605-1621-1665) of Spain. The background mirror reflects the upper bodies of the king and queen. Velázquez also put himself inside the painting! |
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| Las Meninas @ Museo del Prado, Madrid |
Later, at the age of 15, she was married away to Leopold I, the Holy Roman Emperor. In the following 6 years of marriage, she had at least 2 miscarriages and gave birth to 4 children, of whom only one princess survived infancy. At 21, poor Margaret died, after delivery. Poor mothers in those risky days --- rich or poor!
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