A PLEA FOR PEACE AND A THREAT OF REVOLT

NOBLES' ART GLORIFIES WAR, BUT THESE WORKS INSIST ON PEACE...

A caduceus (two serpents coiled around a baton) symbolizes the accord of opposites, so wisdom and harmony, and in paintings where every detail is politically charged Rubens associates it with Marie alone.

-- Heroic Deeds and Mystic Figures by R.F. Miflin and R.E. Wolf, 1989,

analyzes the series in depth.

In the first work Mercury points the caduceus toward the line that joins the right hands of Apollo, Minerva and Marie with the abdomens of the Three Graces: Marie unites wisdom, culture and fertility, characteristics that fit her policy of peace and ardent opposition to Richelieu's, of war.

     The Education of the Princess / zoom

 

UNLESS LOUIS CHOOSES WAR

One of the next works evokes the choice of entering or staying away from the Thirty Years' War (of 1618-1648):

The Meeting in Lyons / zoom 

• Louis carries his scepter like a musket and turns away from his mother, while his charming little brother, Gaston d'Orleans, looks up at her adoringly. Junior princes legitimized revolts when they led them and when this work was painted, in 1626, Gaston had rebelled...

The work implies that should Louis refuse Marie's demand for peace, she might join her favorite son should he revolt again.

(He would, four times).  

• The intrepid queen had already escaped imprisonment and led two rebellions. So that was not an empty threat. 

The king studied the paintings, had them explained to him and left without a word. They may have contributed to Marie's downfall. 

# # #

But a dramatic mistake

 was the main reason for her eclipse.

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 II.5.3.

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