Rijksmuseum and Prado partner to study 16th-century female rulers

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid have announced a collaboration to research the artistic influence of 16th-century European women rulers. Curators are using the term “matronage” to describe this phenomenon, distinguishing it from traditional “patronage” by focusing on women who exercised political power and shaped cultural history.

The partnership focuses on the shared history of Spain and the Netherlands under the Habsburg Empire. During this era, female regents such as Margaret of Austria, Mary of Hungary, and Margaret of Parma collectively governed the Netherlands for nearly 60 years. The research aims to highlight how these women functioned as promoters, collectors, and financiers of art.

The collaboration includes a fellowship program launching in September 2027 to provide researchers access to both museums' archives, as well as a series of expert meetings. The initiative will culminate in a major exhibition at the Rijksmuseum scheduled for 2029.