The Three Eldest Children of King Charles I (after Van Dyck)
after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1800 - 1899
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1321 x 1486 mm (52 x 58 1/2 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Tyntesfield, North Somerset
NT 20906
Caption
This is a version of an original painting in the Royal Collection. It is a charming and very popular image of the royal children. There are many copies of this composition and of the later, larger portrait with five children, which can be found throughout all the National Trust collections. Its appeal extended beyond supporters of the Stuarts.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Three Eldest Children of King Charles I (after Van Dyck), previously attributed to William Charles Thomas Dobson, RA (Hamburg 1817 – Ventnor 1898). A copy after the original painting, 1646, in the Royal Collection. Prince Charles, later King Charles II (1630-1685), James, Duke of York later King James II (1633–1701) and Princess Mary Henrietta, Princess Royal, later Princess of Orange (1631–1660) in white dresses beside him, with two King Charles spaniels.
Provenance
Possibly Trentham Hall; purchased by George Abraham Gibbs 1st Baron Wraxall of Tyntesfield (1873-1931) at Shepherd Bros., St James's, 1909; purchased by the National Trust from the estate of the late George Richard Lawley Gibbs, 2nd Baron Wraxall (1928 – 2001) with the assistance of the NHMF, Art Fund and donations from members and supporters in 2002
Credit line
Tyntesfield, The Gibbs Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: (to frame) On reverse, inscription centre left and with indistinct inscription and dated 1696 lower left: REGIS MAGNAE BRITANNIAE/PROLOE/PRINCEPS CAROLUS NATVS 29 MAY 1630. / IACOBUS DVX EBORACENSIS NATVS 14 OCT. 1633 / ET FILIA PRINCEPS MARIA NATA 4 NO. 1631 / (dated) 1696 / SIR WILLIAM DOBSON d. 1646 Verso: Also two paper labels with typescript to left and right at rear -1) 'This picture of the children of Charles I is a replica of the one by / Sir Anthony Vandyck at Windsor Castle. It was painted by William Dobson / (Vandyck's chief pupil and quite possibly in Vandyck's own studio) for the / King who wished to give it to a friend. It is believed that there was another / replica painted as well. Dobson became Serjeant Painter and Groom of / the Privy Chamber to the King on Vandyck's death in 1641; but he only survived / for five years, dying himself in 1646 / Prince Charles, afterwards Charles II. Prince James, afterwards James II William III of England. Princess Mary, afterwards wife of William of Orange and mother of / William III of England.' (same on both labels except last line missed from right hand label)
Makers and roles
after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641), artist previously catalogued as attributed to William Charles Thomas Dobson, RA (Hamburg 1817 - Ventnor 1898), artist