It’s often tempting to apply modern thoughts and standards to historical paintings.  This glorious 1613 Candid* portrait of the 26 year old Magdalene of Bavaria (1587-1628) rather begs to be interpreted: she either looks incredibly haughty, incredibly bored, or as if she’s just discovered that her lowest and least-favourite lady in waiting is wearing the exact same outfit she is, and looks better in it. ⁠ It’s interesting to match these musings to what is known of Magdalene, who was described as ‘wise’, and was by the accounts available in English (she’s not the most important historical figure, so there isn’t a lot!) politically savvy and ambitious. Magdalene was a Bavarian princess who was a pawn (although possibly an entirely aware and participatory one) in the great West-Central European political machinations of the early 17th century. The child of William V, Duke of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine, and the granddaughter of Christina of Denmark (she who, as a 16 year old widow, famously refused Henry VII proposal with the sassy retort “If I had …