Charles I with M. de St Antoine

Charles is depicted as a chivalrous knight and sovereign[1] riding a large, muscular white horse – possibly a Lipizzaner – under a neoclassical triumphal arch, from which is fall hangings of green silk.

He is clad in parade armour with the blue sash of the Order of the Garter and carries a baton to symbolise his command of the military.

A large royal coat of arms of the House of Stuart stands to the lower left of the painting – of four quarters: first and fourth the fleur-de-lys of France quartering the three lions of England, second the double tressured lion of Scotland, and third the harp of Ireland – surmounted by a large crown.

[3] It was sold to "Pope" on 22 December 1652 and subsequently acquired by the Flemish painter Remigius van Leemput who lived in London.

[4] It was recovered from van Leemput through legal proceedings and returned to Charles II in 1660 upon the Restoration of the Monarchy.

Prime version of van Dyck's first equestrian painting of Charles I, Charles I with M. de St Antoine , 1633