Vizuelni identitet Marije Terezije kao carice-udovice (kaiserinwitwe)
Visual Identity of Maria Theresa as Empress-Dowager (Kaiserinwitwe)

Summary/Abstract: Maria Theresa ruled from 1740 to 1780 as one of the most powerful and influential rulers in history. To fully understand the complex nature of her reign and her political persona, one must understand the specific circumstances that led to her ascension, her government apparatus, her relationship with her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and her personal characteristics. All of these elements, when considered together, contributed significantly to the formation of her visual identity, which underwent a dramatic transformation after her husband’s death. It is this shift in visual identity that will be explored in this paper. First, her rise to power and her coronation will be discussed as key elements in shaping her policies and visual identity. This will be followed by a discussion on how she presented herself and displayed her authority prior to her husband’s passing. The focus of the article will be its second part, which will discuss the numerous changes that occurred following the death of Francis I and how these changes were reflected in the visual representation of Maria Theresa – her everyday appearance, changes in court ceremonies, organization of space in Schönbrunn and, most importantly, the modifications of her portraits. The appearance of Maria Theresa after the death of her husband is certainly an innovation in European culture, given that she was the first widow that displayed political power in her portraits, a practice that was not customary during that period.

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