For centuries, the history of European art has largely focused on male artists, collectors and rulers. Yet some of the most influential figures behind Renaissance masterpieces were women whose contributions have received comparatively little attention.

A new collaboration between the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam aims to change that perspective.

The project will examine how female rulers of the Habsburg dynasty influenced artistic production during the 16th century. Its findings will contribute to a major exhibition scheduled for Amsterdam in 2029.

The Forgotten Women Of The Renaissance

During the 16th century, the Habsburg dynasty controlled extensive territories across Europe, including Spain and the Netherlands.

Several women played important leadership roles within these territories, representing the dynasty and managing complex regional affairs. Three particularly significant figures were Margaret of Austria, Mary of Hungary and Margaret of Parma. Together, their periods of rule in the Netherlands covered almost 60 years.

Beyond their administrative responsibilities, these women developed relationships with prominent artists, commissioned ambitious works and helped shape the cultural identity of their courts. Their artistic influence extended far beyond collecting beautiful objects.

What Is Matronage?

The researchers are introducing the concept of matronage to highlight women's contributions to artistic patronage. Traditionally, art history has often described wealthy male rulers and collectors as the principal supporters of major artists. However, female patrons also provided financial resources, selected artistic subjects and influenced how artworks were displayed. Their decisions helped determine which artists received important commissions and how particular ideas were represented visually. By examining these relationships, the museums hope to provide a more complete understanding of Renaissance artistic development.

Mary Of Hungary And Her Remarkable Collection

One of the project's central figures is Mary of Hungary, who governed the Netherlands and became an influential collector. She owned Emperor Charles V at Mühlberg, painted by Titian in 1548. She also commissioned the artist's celebrated Four Furies, a group of monumental paintings created between 1548 and 1549 for her palace in Binche. These dramatic works depicted mythological male figures undergoing severe punishment. Their placement in a grand ceremonial setting was significant. Rather than serving purely decorative purposes, the paintings communicated ideas about authority, consequences and the responsibilities of leadership. Mary's artistic choices demonstrated how paintings could express a ruler's identity and reinforce the importance of her position.

How Portraits Created Powerful Images

Portraiture offered another way for female rulers to communicate their status. Clothing, posture, jewellery and symbolic objects could all influence how viewers interpreted a portrait. Some women deliberately adopted distinctive visual identities, including portraits featuring the traditional clothing of widows.

Such images could communicate dignity, independence and personal authority. The researchers are particularly interested in how female rulers managed their public appearance through art. Their portraits reveal not only individual preferences but also carefully considered decisions about how they wished to be remembered.

A Major Research Project Begins

The collaboration will involve specialists from both museums and provide access to extensive historical archives. A research fellowship is scheduled to begin in September 2027, allowing a scholar to investigate documents and artworks preserved in Madrid and Amsterdam.

The institutions also plan to organise meetings bringing together experts from different disciplines. These activities will help reconstruct the artistic networks surrounding influential Habsburg women. The research will eventually form the foundation of the Rijksmuseum exhibition in 2029.

Why This Discovery Matters

The project could significantly broaden our understanding of Renaissance art. It encourages historians to look beyond the artists who created famous paintings and consider the people who made their production possible.

Women were not simply subjects appearing in portraits or passive owners of valuable collections. Many actively shaped artistic commissions, supported celebrated painters and influenced how cultural achievements were presented to the world. Recognising their contributions offers a richer and more balanced picture of European artistic history.