Painting of the Day: Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Maria, 17th C.

Click image for larger size.
Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Marie
Gonzales Coques after Anthony van Dyck
Seventeenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A handsome and unusual double portrait, this canvas by Gonzales Coques (1614-1684) depicts King Charles I of England. He is shown wearing the Order of the Garter. At his side is his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria, depicted with the peaceful symbols of a laurel wreath and an olive branch. Set against a lush landscape revealed behind a drape, the Royal couple is presented in an interior with a table upon which sits the crown, scepter and orb.

This painting is one of two double portraits of Charles I and his Queen Consort. The first, dating to 1632, by Anthony can Dyck, now in the collection of the Archiepiscopal Castle and Gardens in the Czech Republic, was much larger. Gonzales was commissioned to paint this smaller version, making his painting as much of a scaled-down copy of van Dyck’s as possible.

Van Dyck’s original was proudly displayed above the drawing room mantel is Somerset House in London—Queen Henrietta Marie's private residence since 1628. Records show that the commission had originally been granted to Daniel Mytens (sometimes recorded as Mitjens), but Queen Henrietta found his work to be unsatisfactory and van Dyck was contacted. The painting, he was told, must create a pleasing sense of the union of the King (making his sovereignty obvious) and the Queen who should show that she offered herself and her power peacefully to the King. The Queen’s father, King Henry IV, was often shown with a laurel wreath, and so, van Dyck chose this as the Queen’s attribute. He added the olive branch of peace as a means of also demonstrating the influence of Charles I’s father, famously peaceable King James I. 

Gonzales’ small-scale copy of van Dyck’s original is decidedly faithful to its source. While the original remained in Royal ownership for many centuries, this version was purchased in the Nineteenth Century by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend who is well known to readers of this site not only for his impressive collection of art, but, especially for the massive assortment of jewels which the ultra-wealthy, fashionable and not-too-religious reverend amassed over his lifetime. 

Gifts of Grandeur: A Badge of the Order of The Garter, 1640

Insignia
Order of the garter
Lesser George
Gold and Enamel, 1640
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Yay! It’s an insignia of the Order of the Garter! I always like these. I like the garter stars most of all, but these little Georges are always a treat. The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348, on St. George’s Day, by King Edward III. It’s the oldest order of chivalry in Europe. It’s also Britain’s highest order and honor.

When granted the Order of the Garter, the individual is given a set of chivalric insignia. He’s set up with a Greater George (I’ll explain more below) for formal use, a Lesser George for everyday wear, and a star to wear on his cloak. These stars, at first, were embroidered with metallic thread, but, if you were special, yours could be a pin made of gold and diamonds.

By the time of Henry VIII, the badges were designed to be worn on a collar. Henry introduced the collar which consisted of 26 Tudor roses within blue garters, with an image of St George killing the dragon hanging by a gold tassel.

That particular image of George slaying the dragon is known as “The Greater George.” So, any garter badge with that depiction is known as such. The one that we see above is known as a “Lesser George.” This version would have been worn for more informal occasions. The Lesser George depicts St. George and the dragon, pre-kill, surrounded by a garter and the motto of the Order.

The twenty-six Tudor roses on the collar symbolize the twenty-six members of the order. The order consists only of twenty-six living members at a time. The collar was not to be set with precious stones. I’m not sure why, but that was the rule. The stars and other insignia could, however, be adorned with any sort of gems that were in fashion at the time.

While the example we see here is made of gold and enamel, other examples of the period are, in fact, set with gems. Greater Georges usually boasted more gems than their informal brothers, but every once in awhile, a Lesser George sparkled with diamonds and other gems. Charles I, for example, wore one set with over 400 diamonds. He wore it to his execution—as one does.

This particular Lesser George was once owned by Thomas Wentworth, who was knighted by King James I and created Earl of Strafford by Charles I in 1640. The Earl represented Yorkshire in Parliament and though he outwardly fought for more honesty and accountability in government, he was actually a rather nasty, greedy and ruthless bloke who made himself many enemies. He was tried for treason during the war with Scotland, and, executed. Presumably, unlike Charles I, he didn’t wear his insignia to the chopping block.

I should note that since being made in 1640, this insignia has, unavoidably, suffered some damage. At one time, George would have been holding a sword or a spear or some other sharp weapon which one might use to bother a dragon. That’s long gone and he’s just holding his little hand up—empty.

Painting of the Day: Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Maria, 17th C.

Click image for larger size.
Charles I of England and Queen Henrietta Marie
Gonzales Coques after Anthony van Dyck
Seventeenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A handsome and unusual double portrait, this canvas by Gonzales Coques (1614-1684) depicts King Charles I of England. He is shown wearing the Order of the Garter. At his side is his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria, depicted with the peaceful symbols of a laurel wreath and an olive branch. Set against a lush landscape revealed behind a drape, the Royal couple is presented in an interior with a table upon which sits the crown, scepter and orb.

This painting is one of two double portraits of Charles I and his Queen Consort. The first, dating to 1632, by Anthony can Dyck, now in the collection of the Archiepiscopal Castle and Gardens in the Czech Republic, was much larger. Gonzales was commissioned to paint this smaller version, making his painting as much of a scaled-down copy of van Dyck’s as possible.

Van Dyck’s original was proudly displayed above the drawing room mantel is Somerset House in London—Queen Henrietta Marie's private residence since 1628. Records show that the commission had originally been granted to Daniel Mytens (sometimes recorded as Mitjens), but Queen Henrietta found his work to be unsatisfactory and van Dyck was contacted. The painting, he was told, must create a pleasing sense of the union of the King (making his sovereignty obvious) and the Queen who should show that she offered herself and her power peacefully to the King. The Queen’s father, King Henry IV, was often shown with a laurel wreath, and so, van Dyck chose this as the Queen’s attribute. He added the olive branch of peace as a means of also demonstrating the influence of Charles I’s father, famously peaceable King James I. 

Gonzales’ small-scale copy of van Dyck’s original is decidedly faithful to its source. While the original remained in Royal ownership for many centuries, this version was purchased in the Nineteenth Century by the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend who is well known to readers of this site not only for his impressive collection of art, but, especially for the massive assortment of jewels which the ultra-wealthy, fashionable and not-too-religious reverend amassed over his lifetime. 

Gifts of Grandeur: A Badge of the Order of The Garter, 1640

Insignia
Order of the garter
Lesser George
Gold and Enamel, 1640
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Yay! It’s an insignia of the Order of the Garter! I always like these. I like the garter stars most of all, but these little Georges are always a treat. The Order of the Garter was founded in 1348, on St. George’s Day, by King Edward III. It’s the oldest order of chivalry in Europe. It’s also Britain’s highest order and honor.

When granted the Order of the Garter, the individual is given a set of chivalric insignia. He’s set up with a Greater George (I’ll explain more below) for formal use, a Lesser George for everyday wear, and a star to wear on his cloak. These stars, at first, were embroidered with metallic thread, but, if you were special, yours could be a pin made of gold and diamonds.

By the time of Henry VIII, the badges were designed to be worn on a collar. Henry introduced the collar which consisted of 26 Tudor roses within blue garters, with an image of St George killing the dragon hanging by a gold tassel.

That particular image of George slaying the dragon is known as “The Greater George.” So, any garter badge with that depiction is known as such. The one that we see above is known as a “Lesser George.” This version would have been worn for more informal occasions. The Lesser George depicts St. George and the dragon, pre-kill, surrounded by a garter and the motto of the Order.

The twenty-six Tudor roses on the collar symbolize the twenty-six members of the order. The order consists only of twenty-six living members at a time. The collar was not to be set with precious stones. I’m not sure why, but that was the rule. The stars and other insignia could, however, be adorned with any sort of gems that were in fashion at the time.

While the example we see here is made of gold and enamel, other examples of the period are, in fact, set with gems. Greater Georges usually boasted more gems than their informal brothers, but every once in awhile, a Lesser George sparkled with diamonds and other gems. Charles I, for example, wore one set with over 400 diamonds. He wore it to his execution—as one does.

This particular Lesser George was once owned by Thomas Wentworth, who was knighted by King James I and created Earl of Strafford by Charles I in 1640. The Earl represented Yorkshire in Parliament and though he outwardly fought for more honesty and accountability in government, he was actually a rather nasty, greedy and ruthless bloke who made himself many enemies. He was tried for treason during the war with Scotland, and, executed. Presumably, unlike Charles I, he didn’t wear his insignia to the chopping block.

I should note that since being made in 1640, this insignia has, unavoidably, suffered some damage. At one time, George would have been holding a sword or a spear or some other sharp weapon which one might use to bother a dragon. That’s long gone and he’s just holding his little hand up—empty.