This work, like Van Dyck’s family portraits, is able to combine intimacy with otherworldliness in an effortless manner. It was copied by the King’s miniature painter Peter Oliver in “limning” (miniature) and so was clearly among the King’s favourite pieces.

Its attribution has been a subject of debate for later scholars; Paul Joannides has recently re-assigned the work to Titian. See also the work by Peter Oliver in the Royal Collection.