Portrait miniature of King Charles I 17th Century

“This portrait miniature of Charles I, possibly based on the popular etching by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677), was one of many painted after his execution in 1649.”

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A portrait miniature of King Charles I of England (1600-1649), wearing dark robes slashed to reveal white sleeves, white collar, garter ribbon and badge

Later silver frame with scroll top

This portrait miniature of Charles I, possibly based on the popular etching by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677), was one of many painted after his execution in 1649. It can be difficult to date commemorative works such as this with any precision, as so many were produced both in the aftermath of the execution and during the restoration of his son Charles II.

This particular portrait miniatureof him is extremely close both in size and type to another example in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 6357), which was intended as the base for mica overlays. These overlays were used for entertainment, much like a modern day card ‘dressing up doll’, and usually told the story of the King’s reign, trial and death. The mica ‘talcs’ were transparent films which could be placed over the oil portrait to ‘dress up’ the figure in different guises.