Marie de' Medici at the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris

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Marie de' Medici was Queen of France from 1610 until her death in 1642 as the second wife of King Henry IV of France, a member of the powerful House of Bourbon. Born into the wealthy and influential House of Medici, she wielded significant power at the French court through her ceaseless political maneuvering and extensive artistic patronage. Marie was crowned Queen on May 13, 1610, just hours before her husband's assassination by the Parliament of Paris, who confirmed her as regent for their young son King Louis XIII of France. She swiftly banished his mistress Catherine Henriette de Balzac d'Entragues from court. The construction and furnishing of the Palais du Luxembourg, which Marie affectionately referred to as her "Palais Médicis," was a major artistic undertaking during her regency. The site was purchased in 1612 and construction began two years later under the guidance of renowned architect Salomon de Brosse. Peter Paul Rubens served as her court painter. This item is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have intriguing items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.