On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01489
- Author
- Dyck, Anton van (Flemish),
- Title
- Sir Endymion Porter and Anton van Dyck
- Chronology
- Ca. 1635
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 119 cm x 144 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCIONREAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A protector and friend of Van Dyck,
Endymion Porter (1587-1649) was
secretary to the Duke of Buckingham
and an important diplomat in the
English Court. A great lover of the
arts, he was in charge of acquiring
works for the collection of King
Charles I, and was one of Van
Dyck's greatest supporters during
the latter's stay in London.
The aristocrat is shown frontally,
wearing white satin, while the
painter, dressed in black, is shown
in profile and shorter, so that he
doesn't stand out over a member of
the aristocracy. The exceptional
character of this double portrait
is justified by the great affection
between the painter and his patron,
which is visually reinforced by the
position of their hands on the
boulder, which symbolizes the
strength of their friendship.
Moreover, by portraying himself
alongside a nobleman, the artist
draws attention to his high social
standing and indirectly dignifies
his artistic work as an noble
activity.
This work originally belonged to
Endymion Porter's own collection,
then passed through various private
collections before appearing in the
collection of Queen Isabel Farnesio
in 1745.
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