The Dynastic and Political Use of the Image of Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria (1669–1692): The ‘Imagined’ Portraits of the Heiress of the Spanish Monarchy

Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria (1669–1692) was the heir to the Spanish Monarchy for almost twenty years, from the death of her mother, Infanta Margarita of Austria, to her own demise on Christmas Eve, 1692. Her image as one of the most prominent members of the Habsburg family, as both the eldest daughter of Emperor Leopold I and niece of Charles II of Spain, was carefully constructed from a very young age, when she appeared in detailed portraits, often with her mother. But she was also presented as the rightful heir to the Spanish Monarchy, not only during her life, but for years after her death. In this article, I want to study the political and dynastic image of Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria, with a special focus on the portraits painted after her death, which presented her both with her young son and as the legitimate heir of the Spanish Monarchy. 1