Portrait of Lord George Stuart by Van Dyck

Acquisition of portrait of Lord George Stuartby Sir Anthony Van Dyck, circa 1638. This full length portrait probably commemorates a marriage. Lord George Stuart had been brought up in France as a Catholic. The portrait is inscribed with the motto in Latin 'Love is stronger than I am' which is presumably an allusion to his conflicting loyalties at the time of his secret marriage in 1638 to Lady Katherine Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, a papist. The match incurred the wrath of Lord George's guardian, the King. Oil on canvas, 2184 x 1334 mm