Vittore Carpaccio
Reception of the English Ambassadors

"There was once [...] a devout king, [...] Maurus by name, who had a daughter, called Ursula. She lived such a virtuous life, was so wise and so beautiful, that her name took wing across the lands. Then there was the king of England, [...] and the fame of this maiden came before him, so that he said: he would be blessed above all things if he could give the maiden in marriage to his only son."

That's how the story of Saint Ursula's martyrdom begins. What you see unfolding here is the next scene. The King of England's envoys have arrived at court. Clad in silver and gold embroidered damask robes, they kneel before King Maurus and present a letter in which their master asks for the hand of Princess Ursula. Maurus accepts the letter, while four advisors observe the scene with some scepticism.

Carpaccio stages this ceremony in keeping with the conventions of the Venetian doge's court. That's not accidental – it's an assertive statement. The earliest diplomatic contacts had developed during the 15th century, with the Venetians setting up the first seats for their ambassadors in other countries. The wealthy mercantile city of Venice was one of the first city states to maintain diplomatic relations – including alliances by marriage.

Would you like to know what the fair Ursula decided? Take a look at the right-hand section of the painting. It shows a concerned -looking Maurus presenting the marriage proposal to his daughter. He's worried because the king of England and his son have not yet converted to Christianity. But Ursula has already made up her mind. She tells her father what her conditions are, counting them on her fingers. Her wise old nurse sits outside the chamber, gazing gloomily into the future.