When Anthony van Dyck painted Double Portrait of Mountjoy Blount, 1st Earl of Newport (-1666) and George, Lord Goring (1608-1657) in 1639, he captured two of the most notorious royalists of the English Civil War on the cusp of history. Both men would become infamous for their loyalty to King Charles I and their roles in the turbulent years that followed. The portrait was likely commissioned during Van Dyck’s final years in England, at a time when tensions at court ran high and allegiances were shifting.

The double portrait format itself was unusual in English painting of the period, reserved for the closest of companions or political allies. Van Dyck fixes his subjects in a moment of poised camaraderie, their gazes directed outward as if interrupted mid-conversation. Mountjoy Blount, with his hand resting confidently on his hip, wears the sash of the Order of the Garter, signaling his status and royal favor. Beside him, George Goring stands slightly behind, his gloved hand gesturing toward his companion—a subtle nod to Blount’s seniority or perhaps to the deference owed to a friend in higher office.

The rich, dark fabrics and the play of light on their faces recall Van Dyck’s earlier portraits of Charles I, but here the intimacy between the two men is foregrounded. Unlike the more formal double portraits by Rubens, Van Dyck’s approach is relaxed, almost conspiratorial, hinting at the private alliances that shaped public events. The subsequent history of this painting is not fully documented, but it is believed to have remained in private hands for much of its existence, passing through the collections of English aristocrats before entering the public domain. Its attribution to Van Dyck has never been seriously questioned, as the painter’s hand is evident in the fluid brushwork and psychological acuity.

Today, the work stands as a testament to Van Dyck’s influence on English portraiture, setting a standard for elegance and psychological insight that would echo through the work of later artists such as Gainsborough and Reynolds. It offers not only a glimpse into the personalities of two key royalists, but also into the world of courtly alliances and rivalries that defined the era.