King Charles I

Sitterback to top

• King Charles I (1600-1649), Reigned 1625-49. Sitter associated with 330 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Gerrit van Honthorst (1590-1656), Artist. Artist associated with 50 portraits, Sitter associated with 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

An unusually informal and intimate portrait, this painting is probably the life study on which Honthorst based another image of Charles I in a large allegorical group portrait at Hampton Court. This shows the King and Queen as Apollo and Diana, with the Duke of Buckingham as Mercury, presenting to them the Seven Liberal Arts.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 33
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 33
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 66
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 54
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 54
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 115
• Williamson, David, Kings and Queens, 2010, p. 111

Subject/Themeback to top

• Reading