King Charles, being extremely short (less than…
1629 CE
King Charles, being extremely short (less than five foot tall), presents challenges to his court portraitist, Daniel Mytens, a somewhat pedestrian Flemish painter.
Since the prince's accession to the throne as Charles I in 1625, Mijtens has produced such a large number of full length portraits of Charles I and his courtiers, including duplicates, that it is assumed that he had workshop assistance.
Two of his finest portraits are of the same man, James Hamilton, later 1st Duke of Hamilton, whom he painted as a seventeen year old in 1623 and again in 1629.
Mijtens makes visits to the Netherlands in 1626 and 1630, perhaps to study the latest developments in his field, more particularly the works of Rubens and Van Dyck.
Charles in 1628 had bought the fabulous collection that the Gonzagas of Mantua had been forced to dispose of, and he has been trying since his accession in 1625 to bring leading foreign painters to England.
Rubens is an especial target, who eventually comes on a diplomatic mission, which includes painting, in September 1629, and later supplies more paintings from Antwerp.
He is very well treated during his nine month visit, during which he is knighted.
An important work from this period is the Allegory of Peace and War (1629; National Gallery, London), which illustrates the artist's strong concern for peace, and is given to Charles as a gift.