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Pourbus painted mainly princes and members of their court. In Antwerp in the 1590s, at the start of his career, he chiefly painted the portraits of the Archdukes and members of the Habsburg Burgundian government, but his reputation was created by portraits painted after about 1599 of the Gonzagas and the court of Marie de' Medici.
Pourbus's portraits are notable for a certain severity in presentation. He also seems to have expressed the highly formalist spirit of contemporary court etiquette in his aloof poses. However, the plastic modelling in Pourbus's style is very personal, enabling him to depict in a tactile and analytical way the rich fabric of costly ceremonial robes.
The present portrait depicts Elisabeth of France (1602-1644), the first wife of King Philip IV of Spain. She also served as regent of Spain during the Catalan Revolt. She was the eldest daughter of King Henry IV of France and his second spouse Marie de' Medici.
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