Erin Griffey is Senior Lecturer in Art History at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

• Contents: Preface; Introduction, Erin Griffey; Religion, European politics and Henrietta Maria's circle, 1625-41, Malcolm Smuts; The Secretary of Ladies and feminine friendship at the court of Henrietta Maria, Diana Barnes; Queen Henrietta Maria's theatrical patronage, Karen Britland; 'The rare and excellent partes of Mr Walter Montague': Henrietta Maria and her playwright, Sarah Poynting; The 3 Marys: the Virgin, Marie de Médicis and Henrietta Maria, Jessica Bell; 'By our direction and for our use': the Queen's patronage of artists and artisans seen through her household accounts, Caroline Hibbard; Merely ornamental? Van Dyck's portraits of Henrietta Maria, Gudrun Raatschen; Devotional jewellery in portraits of Henrietta Maria, Erin Griffey; Sounds of piety and devotion: music in the Queen's chapel, Jonathan P. Wainwright; Select bibliography; Index.

'This timely essay collection complements studies whose agenda have been predominantly literary, offering a convincing, holistic account of early Stuart court culture... an open-minded and original contribution to the current scholarly debate.' Barbara Ravelhofer, Durham University, UK ’...this is an illuminating and impressive collection that makes an excellent contribution not only to the plethora of Henrietta Maria scholarship produced in recent years, but also to the increasing body of work lately devoted to early modern queenship in general.’ H-Albion ’These stimulating and beautifully illustrated essays, which are firmly anchored in original research, are warmly recommended and fully succeed in Griffey’s aim for the collection: not to downplay King Charles I but to bring Queen Henrietta Maria back onto the stage.’ Catholic Historical Review