Peter Paul Rubens
In The Triumph of Juliers, Rubens depicts Marie de' Medici — widow of King Henry IV and mother to Louis XIII, the next king of France — in a version of the traditional equestrian portrait generally reserved for leaders in war. Wearing the helmet of Athena (the Greek goddess of war) and wielding the marshal's baton, Marie sits atop a magnificent white steed. A figure representing Magnanimity trails behind, while above, Victory prepares to place a laurel wreath on her head and Fame blows energetically on a trumpet. It has been suggested that the allegorical nature of the work would have made Marie's usurpation of this and other masculine roles palatable to her subjects while she served as regent for Louis. In any event, it should be noted that the former queen is dressed in a rich gown, wears her typical pearl jewelry, maintains the pale complexion associated with female beauty, and sits side-saddle on her horse.