Biography

Daniel Mytens, who came from a family of painters, was born in Delft and trained in The Hague. He was in London by 1618 when he was working for the Earl and Countess of Arundel. He first painted King James VI and I in 1621 and was appointed 'picture-drawer' to Charles I on his accession to the throne in 1625. Until the arrival of Van Dyck at the court in 1632 he was the favoured portrait painter of the royal family and leading aristocrats. Superceded by Van Dyck, he retired to The Hague where he continued to work for his old patron, the Earl of Arundel, helping him acquire works of art.