The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of King Charles I, Daniel Mytens, 1628
The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of King Charles I, Daniel Mytens, 1628 - Photo gallery
The Sobieskis and Stuarts. Portrait of King Charles I, Daniel Mytens, 1628 - Photo gallery
oil on canvas, 1628
private collection
One of many portraits of the king by Daniel Mytens (1590–1647), the court painter to Charles I. Born in Delft, he studied painting in The Hague, where he joined the Guild of Saint Luke in 1610. In 1618, he moved to London, and in 1625, after King Charles I ascended the throne, he was appointed court painter to the king.
The portrait shows the king in a dark red doublet with a light lace ruff and the blue sash of the Order of the Garter, on which hangs a jewel with the image of Saint George, known as The Lesser George.
Charles I, grandson of Mary, Queen of Scots, and son of James I/VI (I as King of England and Ireland, VI as King of Scotland), created a personal union between England and Scotland. He was also grandfather of James III/VIII, the husband of Clementina Sobieska. His reign, which lasted from 1625 until 1649, came to an end with a civil war prompted by a conflict between the royal court and the Parliament. When the royalists were defeated, Charles I was accused of treason and sentenced to death. He was beheaded on January 30, 1649, in London.
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