Isabella, Restored.

Her life ended in tragedy …. strangled by her husband for the shame she had brought upon the family. An affair. Though she repented she never was able to win back the favor of her husband, who ultimately slayed her.

The portrait was a signal of her repentance… and new status in the eyes of God. The original was over-painted during the 19th century. The distinctive, but not classically beautiful, queen was forged into an image more in keeping with the ersatz puritanism of the day…. Her long nose reconstructed into a pert little thing… Her hooded eyes rounded, doe-like… her beefy hand trimmed and more delicate.

In the original she holds an alabaster jar… a reference to Mary Magdalene who poured oil from an alabaster jar onto Jesus’ feet and wiped the dust off with her hair. The portrait bore witness to the grace of God toward an ill-reputed woman… The halo, an acknowledgement of the forgiveness and restoration through Jesus, the champion of all women… the one who deigned to do women’s work and acknowledge them as spiritual. equals.

That Mary Magdalene… That Jesus. That Isabella, distinguished but not beautiful, saved by grace.