“Portrait of the Bearded Helena Antonia”
Ou of the cabinet of curiosities at the National Museum in Wrocław
A portrait of Helena Antonia of Liége (with beard) (c. 1621) by UnknownNational Museum in Wrocław
Meet Helena Antonia
Helena Antonia (the “bearded virgin”) was an incredibly famous person in the 16th century. She was born in the Liege diocese and was raised in the court of Maria, the archduchess of Styria (wife of Charles II), in Graz.
Starting from the early 17th century, Helena Antonia was the subject of scientific treaties (of greater or lesser value) which described physiologic and anatomic curiosities.
In 1605, Helena arrived in Kraków as one of ladies in waiting and was immortalized in the Stockholm Roll, which depicts a ceremonial procession preceding the wedding of the king with Archduchess Constance.
She appeared in Wrocław 16 years later, where she was immortalized in a painting.
Driven by fantasy, Wrocław chroniclers in the 18th century did not hesitate to combine the story of this extraordinary maiden with the legend of Saint Wilgefortis, inverting its meaning.
They wrote that Helena Antonia's beard allegedly grew out of great concern because no man wanted to take her as his wife.
E. Houszka | A. Ziemlańska | mnwr.pl
