Somerset House Conference (painting)

It is a group portrait, depicting the 11 representatives of the governments of England, Spain and the Spanish Netherlands, seated around a conference table, probably in old Somerset House.

Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, and her successor James I quickly sought to end the 18 years of conflict.

The work includes portraits of the 11 government representatives, each seated in an elaborate chair of estate to either side of a long rectangular table covered by a fine oriental carpet of the so-called Holbein carpet type, a common object of luxury to display in Jacobean portraiture.

The Spanish ambassadors were lodged at Somerset House, and the painting may represent the Council Chamber in the east of wing of its main quadrangle, the view from window conforming with plans of the demolished palace.

[1] Depicted on the right side of the table are the five English delegates representing James I; in order of precedence, from the window: On the left is the delegation from Spain representing Philip III; in order from the window: And then the delegation from the Spanish Netherlands representing Albert VII, Archduke of Austria: One version, thought to be the original, is held by the National Portrait Gallery, London, and a copy at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.