Sir Endymion Porter and the Artist
by DYCK, Sir Anthony van, Oil on canvas, 110 x 114 cm
Endymion Porter (1587-1649) was a favourite courtier of King Charles I, for whom he bought works of art. His father was a large landowner in Gloucestershire but he was brought up by his grandparents in Spain. He was a judicious collector of pictures, and as the friend of Rubens, Van Dyck, Daniel Mijtens and other painters, and as agent for Charles in his purchases abroad he had a considerable share in forming the king’s magnificent collection.