Charles I at the Hunt

Anthony van Dyck painted the Charles I at the Hunt around 1635, depicting the English king in civilian clothing beside his horse as if resting during a hunt. The 266 x 207 cm canvas uses a low-angle perspective to make Charles, who was only 163 cm (5'4") tall, appear more commanding. Van Dyck's characteristic nonchalance blends with regal assurance.

The king paid Van Dyck £100 for the painting in 1638, half what the artist requested. It's not listed in the inventory after Charles's execution in 1649, and its route to France remains mysterious. The Louvre Museum acquired it in 1775 during Louis XVI's reign.

Van Dyck painted Charles's face all in one go, demonstrating outstanding skill. The jutting elbow recalls Titian's Portrait of Gerolamo Barbarigo. This painting influenced 18th-century British portraitists including Gainsborough and Reynolds, establishing an ideal of aristocratic elegance.