The Laurel Wreath
Dutch artist Daniel Mytens created a double portrait of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria, but it was poorly received, leading to Antony Van Dyck's more successful and intimate portrayal.
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In the early 1630s, Dutch artist Daniel Mytens was commissioned to create a double portrait of King Charles I and his queen, Henrietta Maria. The painting, which depicted the queen presenting a laurel wreath to the king, was intended to symbolize their union and intimacy. However, King Charles was dissatisfied with Mytens' work, leading him to commission a new portrait from Antony Van Dyck. Van Dyck's version was more successful, featuring vibrant colors and a more engaging portrayal of the royal couple. In contrast to Mytens' depiction, where the king appeared hesitant and the queen disinterested, Van Dyck captured a more intimate and dynamic relationship between them. This shift in representation may have subtly alluded to the political tensions surrounding Henrietta Maria, who was viewed with suspicion due to her French and Catholic background. Ultimately, Mytens left England shortly after, marking the end of his career as a royal painter, while Van Dyck's work became the preferred representation of the couple.
- Daniel Mytens painted a double portrait of King Charles I and Henrietta Maria, which was poorly received.
- Antony Van Dyck was commissioned to create a new portrait that was more successful and vibrant.
- Van Dyck's painting suggested a deeper intimacy between the royal couple compared to Mytens' version.
- The shift in portrayal may reflect the political tensions surrounding Henrietta Maria during the English Civil War.
- Mytens' departure from England marked the end of his career as a royal painter.
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1 comments> On this canvas, now part of the Royal Collection, the King is being passed a laurel wreath by his wife, as ‘a symbol of their union and a public statement of tenderness and intimacy.’
I've never heard of the laurel wreath as a symbol of tenderness and intimacy. In Ancient Greece, they were a symbol of skill in athletics or poetry; in Ancient Rome, they were a symbol of victory on the field of battle.
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