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Lot Essay
As pointed out by Sir O. Millar in a letter dated 22 June 1998, the present lot is a contemporary copy after the picture of 1636, now in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (E. Larsen, The Paintings of Anthony van Dyck, 1988, I, p. 132, fig. 139; II, p. 340, cat. no869), which was painted for Cardinal Francesco Barberini, for his Cancelleria in Rome. Studio replicas are at Warwick Castle; in the Somers collection at Eastnor Castle and in the collection of Mrs. Diana Eaton, Toronto (E. Larsen, op.cit., II, cat. noA227-2; A227-3 and A227-4). Old copies are at Wilton and in the National Portrait Gallery (see Larsen, nosA227-1 and A227-5).
As Cardinal Protector of England, Barberini was the defender of the Catholic cause in England and was kept in touch with English affairs through papal agents in London. He is known to have send a gift of pictures to the King, which arrived in January 1636. He acted as an intermediary in the commission of a sculpted bust of the King by Bernini. This portrait by Van Dyck is mentioned in a letter from George Con, the papal agent in London, to Barberini dating from 11 December 1636. This letter provides a terminus ante quem for the execution of the portrait.(see O. Millar, Notes on three pictures by Van Dyck, Burlington Magazine, July 1969, p. 417).
Queen Henrietta Maria was the daughter of King Henri IV of France and Queen Maria de' Medici; she married King Charles I of Great Britain in 1625. She was the strongest advocate of English catholics during the reign of King Charles I, when they were subject to punitive treatment as recusants. She returned to France during the English civil war, but followed her son back to England at his Restoration in 1660. Five years later, she left England for the last time.
Sir Oliver Millar, op.cit. has stated that the prototype in the Metropolitan Museum is outstanding among Van Dycks numerous renderings of the Queen.
As Cardinal Protector of England, Barberini was the defender of the Catholic cause in England and was kept in touch with English affairs through papal agents in London. He is known to have send a gift of pictures to the King, which arrived in January 1636. He acted as an intermediary in the commission of a sculpted bust of the King by Bernini. This portrait by Van Dyck is mentioned in a letter from George Con, the papal agent in London, to Barberini dating from 11 December 1636. This letter provides a terminus ante quem for the execution of the portrait.(see O. Millar, Notes on three pictures by Van Dyck, Burlington Magazine, July 1969, p. 417).
Queen Henrietta Maria was the daughter of King Henri IV of France and Queen Maria de' Medici; she married King Charles I of Great Britain in 1625. She was the strongest advocate of English catholics during the reign of King Charles I, when they were subject to punitive treatment as recusants. She returned to France during the English civil war, but followed her son back to England at his Restoration in 1660. Five years later, she left England for the last time.
Sir Oliver Millar, op.cit. has stated that the prototype in the Metropolitan Museum is outstanding among Van Dycks numerous renderings of the Queen.