Medici Queens of France:
Catherine & Maria
Title: Le Colosse de Rhodes ou L’attaque surprise (The Colossus of Rhodes or The Surprise Attack),
Post 1607
Artist: Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory
Medium: Wool, Silk, Silver and Gold
Dimensions: 494 x 165.3 cm
Permanent Collection: Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris
Image Courtesy: Palazzo Strozzi
Symbolism! A picture says a thousand words, and sometimes can be used to convey a
political message. The name Medici, now, evokes the image of a powerful ruling family in Italy. Their
power at one point extended to France. 16th century female rulers whether as sovereign, like Elizabeth Tudor of England
or as regent for her children, like Catherine de Medici, were not highly regarded. A struggle to keep the
power that would be hers without question, had she been of the other gender, under the exact
same set of circumstances led to some unique methods using everything available including artists
and artisans.
Catherine de Medici commissioned a series of fifteen monumental tapestries portraying The Story of
Artemisia. They were completed during the time of another French Medici Queen, Maria. The famed
Parisian textile firm Gobelins produced them. These tapestries
have been reunited and are about to make their first ever debut in the Medici seat of power: Florence.
Title: La Reine distribue le butin (The Queen distributes the spoils),
Post 1607
Artist: Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory
Medium: Wool, Silk, Silver and Gold
Dimensions: 497 x 166 cm
Permanent Collection: Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris
Image Courtesy: Palazzo Strozzi
Women in Power: Caterina and Maria de’ Medici
The Return to Florence of Two Queens of France
Palazzo Strozzi
Florence, Italy
October 24, 2008 - February 8, 2009
Title: La Reine Artémise au Conseil (ou Les Députés) (The Queen and her Council),
Post 1607
Artist: Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory
Medium: Wool, Silk, Silver and Gold
Dimensions: 488 x 139.5 cm
Permanent Collection: Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris
Image Courtesy: Palazzo Strozzi
Caterina de’ Medici (1519-1589)
Caterine (or Catherine) of Medici married King Henri II of France. He died accidentally in what was
meant to be a friendly joust, when his opponent's lance pierced his eye. Catherine was
the single parent of ten children and surrounded by those wishing to rule as regent for her frail teenage
son, who had become King Francis II.
The French Queen has been known in history as wife of one French King and mother of three
Kings. She outlived
all but two of her children.
Maria de’ Medici (1573-1642)
In some ways history does repeat itself. Maria de Medici was widowed like her relative, Catherine, upon
the assassination of her husband Henri IV of France on May 14 1610, became regent to her son
the nine-year-old Louis XIII.
Artemisias's Story
Title: Artémise et Lygdamis regardant les deux statues (Artemisia and Lygdamis look at the two statues),
Post 1607
Artist: Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory
Medium: Wool, Silk, Silver and Gold
Dimensions: 499 x 133.8 cm
Permanent Collection: Mobilier National & Manufactures des Gobelins, Paris
Image Courtesy: Palazzo Strozzi
Artemisias! Plural. There were two women named Artemisia: warrior Queen Artemisia of
Halicarnassus in Asia Minor and Queen Artesmisia the widow of King Mausolus.
Artemisia, warrior Queen, was an ally of King Xerxes of Persia who invaded Greece. This queen commanded
five ships during the 480 BC Battle of Salamis.
Artemisia, widow Queen, was known for her incredible grief after the loss of her husband. Lore held
she mixed his ashes into a daily drink. She was credited with the building of one of the
seven wonders of the ancient world: the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus created in memory of her beloved husband.
Like the warrior Queen, this Artesmisia was successful in war defending her city from an attack by Rhodes.
Title: Porteurs de vases et de monnaie sur un brancard
(Carrying the spoils of war),
Post 1607
Artist: Fauburg Saint-Marcel factory
Medium: Wool, Silk, Silver and Gold
Dimensions: 501 x 143.4 cm
Image Courtesy: Palazzo Strozzi
Gobelins created the tapestries based on the designs of Antoine Caron (c.1521-99) and Henry Lerambert (1550-1609)
on the suggestions of Catherine de Medici who intertwined the stories of both Queens named
Artemisia. Catherine wanted to emphasize the political skills of the Artemisias and their successes in battles. A queen could
rule; successfully without a husband, was the message meant to be sent.
The exhibition includes portraits of both women and some of the preparatory drawings that Gobelins
used in their creations of these dramatic tapestries weaving the story of the power of a female Queen Consort.
Loans from some of the world's most prestigious museums: Galleria degli Uffizi and the Louvre complete
the exhibit. Portraits and depictions of the two royal marriages will be on display from such noted
artists as Anthony van Dyck, Jacopo Chimenti called l’Empoli, Santi de Tito and Pourbus the Younger.
There is a letter with one of Maria’s drawings, a 17th century terracotta dish depicting Henri and his family, and a precious
jewlry collection.
The Medici Queen Consorts used whatever was available, even art, to pursue their aims and send the message that a
female had and could wield power just as well as a King.
Women in Power: Caterina and Maria de’ Medici
The Return to Florence of Two Queens of France
Palazzo Strozzi:
October 24, 2008 - February 8, 2009
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