1599–1641

Anthony van Dyck

Anthony van Dyck was born in Antwerp and worked as the leading assistant to Peter Paul Rubens. After years in Italy, especially Genoa, he became principal painter to Charles I of England in 1632 and was knighted. His elegant, relaxed portraits of the English court set the model for British portraiture into the 18th century. He also painted religious and mythological works and made the etched portrait series known as the Iconography. He died in London in 1641.