Charles I of England (1600-1649) as Prince of Wales 1624

Daniël Mijtens painted this portrait of Charles I as Prince of Wales using oil on canvas. Consider the opulence conveyed through the skilled brushwork. Each lustrous detail—the sheen of satin, the delicate lace—speaks volumes about the extensive labor and global trade networks required to produce such finery. There’s the painter’s labor too, of course, and that of those who prepared his pigments. Mijtens meticulously rendered the Prince’s attire, each element serving as a marker of status and power. This isn't just paint on canvas; it's a carefully constructed image, designed to broadcast the Prince’s elevated position in society. The very act of commissioning and creating such a portrait underscores the vast social and economic disparities of the time, highlighting the stark contrast between the lives of the monarchy and the working classes. By focusing on the material and the making, we gain insight into the social context that produced it.