The portrait of the royal children van Dyck wrote for their mother Henrietta Maria. She wanted to send the picture to her sister Christine, the Duchess of Savoy, in return for a portrait of her children-a kind of sharing of family photographs at the royal level.
The children painted by the artist are Prince Charles, born in 1630, Princess Mary, born in 1631, and Prince Jacob, born in 1633. Children’s portraits of Van Dijk always created with warmth and love, and this one also has a beautiful color.
Many critics consider the picture the best children’s portrait of Van Dyck. True, King Charles I did not like it, probably because his heir looks like a girl here. But the artist in this case is not to blame, it was just in those days it was customary for all children up to seven years to dress up in a dress.
Children of Charles by Anthony Van Dyck 
Portrait of Charles I and Henrietta Maria by Anthony Van Dyck 
Equestrian portrait of Charles I by Anthony Van Dyck 
Portrait de trois enfants aînés de Charles I – Anthony Van Dyck 
Portrait of Wilhelm of Orange with his bride Maria Stuart by Anthony Van Dyck 
Portrait de Charles I et Henrietta Maria – Anthony Van Dyck 
Portrait équestre de Charles I – Anthony Van Dyck 
Queen Henrietta Maria and Sir Jeffrey Hudson by Anthony Van Dyck