The Wedding by Proxy Poster

This work depicts the proxy marriage ceremony held on October 5, 1600, in Florence Cathedral, where Marie de' Medici, a Florentine princess, was married to King Henry IV of France by proxy. Since Henry IV was engaged in war and could not attend in person, his proxy was his uncle, Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who is shown placing the wedding ring on Marie’s finger. The scene is set in an opulent hall filled with identifiable historical figures, including Marie’s relatives and important dignitaries such as Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini, who presides over the ceremony. Rubens also includes a mythological element: Hymenaios, the ancient god of marriage, wearing a crown of roses and carrying the nuptial torch and bride’s train, symbolising the sanctity and celebration of the union.