The Five Eldest Children of Charles I

Five royal children in silks stand together, the eldest with his hand on a huge mastiff, beside a crimson curtain. The group fills the canvas with the warmth of a household, each figure turned towards the others. The small gestures between them tell the story, and there is always another one to find.

Its palette, measured from the canvas, is led by chocolate, with Venetian red and umber in support: a low-lit, warm picture. Those warm tones give it a glow that comes alive in lamplight and deepens as the evening draws in. The wide format lets the scene unfold from side to side, with something new to find towards its edges.

A wide canvas like this one is a natural focal point above a sofa, a sideboard or a bed, where its width can carry the wall. It is a gentle choice for a nursery or a child's room. Chocolate and Venetian red are easy to echo in cushions, a throw or a painted wall nearby, and it holds its own in a mixed gallery wall.

Anthony van Dyck made the original in 1637; in the collection it is listed under Baroque. It carries the drama of the Baroque, with deep shadow and a strong fall of light that pull the scene towards you. This painting is printed to order on gallery-wrapped canvas in 30 × 40 cm or 40 × 60 cm, from the image you see here. The canvas wraps around its frame, so it arrives ready to hang, with no framing needed. Want yourself in it instead? Add a photo and see your portrait free before you order.