| Louise Hollandine | |||||
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| Abbess of Maubuisson | |||||
 Self portrait by Louise Hollandine, princess Palatine | |||||
| Abbess of Maubuisson | |||||
| Reign | August 1664 – 11 February 1709 | ||||
| Predecessor | Catherine III Angélique | ||||
| Successor | Charlotte II Joubert | ||||
| Born | 8 April 1622 Noordeinde Palace,The Hague,Dutch Republic | ||||
| Died | 11 February 1709(1709-02-11) (aged 86) Maubuisson Abbey,Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône,Kingdom of France | ||||
| Burial | Maubuisson Abbey | ||||
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| House | Palatine-Simmern | ||||
| Father | Frederick V of the Palatinate | ||||
| Mother | Elizabeth Stuart | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic, prev.Protestant | ||||
| Occupation | Portrait painter, abbess | ||||
Princess Louise Hollandine of the Palatinate (18 April 1622 – 11 February 1709) was a painter andabbess. She was a daughter ofFrederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and Scottish princessElizabeth Stuart, daughter ofKing James VI and I. She is also known for her romantic involvement with theMarquess of Montrose.
Born in April 1622, Louise Hollandine was born at the Hague Palace in Holland, as her father was living in exile at the court of his uncle,Maurice, Prince of Orange. She was his sixth child and second daughter by his wife Princess Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter ofKing James VI and I of England and sister ofKing Charles I. Her parents had lost their Electoral lands and the crown of Bohemia, resulting in exile. She was given the name Hollandine to show appreciation to Frederick's uncles, the Princes of Orange, for protecting the family in exile.[1]
She studied primarily inLeiden at the 'Prinsenhof', and reportedly began drawing lessons at age six, and became devoted to portraiture.[2] She was taught in the Calvinist tradition according to theHeidelberg Catechism.[3]
Louise is said to have had a love-affair withJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (originally Earl of Montrose), a ScottishCavalier soldier and poet. Montrose, a revered national hero, won many outstanding military victories until ultimately beinghanged and quartered in 1650.[4]
For unknown reasons and to the dismay of her Protestant family, in December 1657 Louise fled toFrance with the assistance of her aunt by marriageHenrietta Maria of France and converted to theRoman Catholic faith. On 25 March 1659 she became anovice and on 19 September 1660 a nun in theCistercianMaubuisson Abbey.[5] With the support ofKing Louis XIV, she became Abbess of Maubuisson in August 1664. Her mother Elizabeth Stuart attempted to have Louise arrested and returned, and her conversion created lifelong animosity. Louise Hollandine was the only child to be left out of Elizabeth Stuart's will.[citation needed] Her brotherEdward supported her conversion, as he had converted to Catholicism and lived in France as well.[citation needed]
Louise Hollandine was a talented portrait painter andgraphic artist, a talent that she shared with her brother,Prince Rupert. She was student ofGerard van Honthorst and painted so ably in his style that some of her works were attributed to him.
As abbess, she continued painting and used her abbey's wealth and her family's lineage to make charitable donations toEnglish Benedictine nuns, including a Madonna and Child painting she created in 1691, which was hung in theLady Chapel.[6]
As a painter, the princess is considered an "amateur". The portraits she painted are often in theBaroque style of Honthorst, but there are exceptions, which were likely not commissioned. Her works were generally kept within her family, and some can now be found inGerman museums.
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| Preceded by | Abbess of Maubuisson 1667–1680 | Succeeded by |
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