1721 Copper Engraving Portrait Philippina Welser Ferdinand II Habsburg EUM1

This is an original 1721 black and white copper engraving of "Philippina Ertz Herzog Ferdiandi in Tÿrol erste Gemahlin." This is a portrait of Philippine Welser, of the Welsers of Augsburg, a wealthy family of merchants and financiers of significance in Europe. Philippine was the first wife of Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria. They were married in 1557 in secret, as the marriage was morganatic since Wesler was not from a noble or royal family. The marriage was only accepted by Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I in 1559, on condition that its secrecy be kept. The children of Philippine and Ferdinand II were not entitled to inherit the Habsburg Dynasty unless the dynastic line was in absolute threat of extinction, and were thus given the name "of Austria," with the sons receiving the title of "Margrave of Burgau," an old Habsburg possession in Further Austria. The portrait is surrounded by a wonderful decorative motif mimicking a frame set against an etched background. The design fea