
Anthony van DyckFlemish, 1599–1641May one see it?
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
Anthony van Dyck produced stand-alone portraits of famous men as well as those in his Iconography; all of them went through multiple states of engraving. This, the first state, included only the sitter’s head. Another artist likely added the body and framing elements to the four state. The final state would include text describing the sitter and his coat of arms. Baron Philippe Le Roy was a Flemish diplomat who would help end the Thirty Years’ War in 1648; Van Dyck had already painted his portrait in 1630 (Wallace Collection, London).
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
1626–1632
The Iconography Print Series
After returning to Antwerp, Van Dyck conceived a large series of engraved portraits of his contemporaries, the Iconography; he etched eighteen plates himself, executing the preparatory drawings mainly between 1626 and 1633. The first edition (80 plates) appeared in Antwerp in 1632.
1629
Beginning of His Relationship with Charles I
Van Dyck's relationship with Charles I began in 1629: through the intermediary Sir Endymion Porter, the king acquired his painting Rinaldo and Armida.
by 1630
Court Painter to Archduchess Isabella
From 1630 Van Dyck was court painter to Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia of Habsburg, regent of the Spanish Netherlands; for her portrait he received a gold chain.
1632 · Workplace
London
1632
Post: court painter
5 July 1632
Principal Painter to King Charles I
On 5 July 1632 Charles I officially appointed Van Dyck principal painter to the king, guaranteeing an annual income of two hundred pounds sterling; the king gave him a large house with a garden on the banks of the Thames.