Anonymous: The arrival of Henry III of France at the Lido in Venice in 1574 (1591)

(Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA)

An engraving by an unknown Italian artist. After the death of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, Henry III of France was elected as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1573 in exchange for military support against Russia, diplomatic assistance in dealing with the Ottoman Empire, and financial subsidies. After the death of his brother king Charles IX of France, Henry quickly abandoned his Polish throne and traveled to France to claim the French throne. On his way to France Henry made a stop at Venice where he was received by a grand welcome. A triumphal arch and a loggia was erected, designed by the architect Andrea Palladio and decorated with paintings by leading artists Jacopo Tintoretto and Paolo Veronese. The members of each guild in Venice prepared a ship decorated to reflect their profession; fifteen of the most important are identified here with small inscriptions. Henry III ruled as king of France from 1574 to 1589. He was murdered on 1 August 1589 by a young fanatical Dominican friar. Engraving from 1591.