The Burgundian Bride

The Burgundian Bride is a 1506 portrait by Brunanter portraitist Rickard Helsenberg (c.1480-1544). This is considered his personal masterpiece and one of the finest Brunanter paintings of all time.

The bride
Not much is known about the subject of the painting save for a few notes in a letter dated to 25 June 1506. The Bride had just arrived to Brunant from Burgundy and was set to marry a Brunanter. The painting was commissioned by her husband-to-be.

History
Helsenberg finished the painting in 1506 but only managed to sell it in 1508, for around Th. 100. The painting went through various owners through the years. During the Brunanter Civil War the painting was taken by Karl Van Draak's side and sold to raise funds. In 1941, the painting was smuggled out of the country to New York following the German invasion of Brunant. In 1961, the painting was purchased by the National Museum of Art by Th. 125,000. It is now one of the top exhibits in the Wernerhal and the whole museum.