Charles I’s Early Years
Portraiture was a political tool and a means of gaining socio-political prestige. It was also a way of communicating with an audience the desired image and perception of the sitter. 100 years after Holbein painted for the English court, a new monarch with big ambition took to the throne in 1625: Charles I. Not only was he a prolific patron of the arts (one of the earliest English/British monarchs to understand the power and import of visual culture), he was also prolific in his commissioning of official portraits. Anthony van Dyck, one of Europe’s premier artists, became his court painter and created many of these portraits.
In addition to being a patron of the arts, Charles is the last member of the royal family to be arrested (before Andrew Mountbatton-Windsor, that is). Why? We first have to look at his childhood. Born in 1600, Charles was a sickly baby and child and had issues with his legs that likely were caused by Ricketts (he likely was kept indoors too much because of his sickliness, which led to the lack of vitamin D that causes Ricketts in youth). He would need the assistance of a cane for most of his life, although he was an avid sportsman. Although born in Scotland, he moved to England in 1604 after his father, James VI’s, accession to the English throne in 1603 (making him James VI of Scotland and I of England). Charles was second in line to the throne after his brother, Henry Frederick. Whereas Charles was sickly and small, his older brother was the essence of the early modern prince: he was handsome, tall, athletic, and intelligent. Unfortunately, Henry Frederick died at the age of 18 in 1612. Charles had big shoes to fill.
This portrait of Charles I was painted before his sojourn to Spain in 1623 with the duke of Buckingham to try and win the hand of the infanta (princess) Maria Anna. He sits in three-quarter profile and wears a satin jacket with slashed sleeves and a white lace collar. He wears a knightly medal, as well. This portrait is designed simply to state his high status and present him in an authoritative light. While Parliament wanted to go to war with Spain over their treatment of Protestants, James VI and I (Charles’ father) wanted to broker peace. Charles’ trip was not very popular at all because it was viewed as sympathizing with a Catholic enemy. The trip wound up being a disaster for Charles, who was viewed by the Spanish Court (including the infanta) as an infidel. He returned home completely dejected but welcomed by a public who were relieved not to have a Catholic in the royal family. Charles completely reversed his position and wanted to go to war with Spain, although he could not raise the funds.
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