A man with a pointed beard and mustache stands turned slightly to his left, his right hand resting on a table covered in gold-patterned fabric. He wears a dark cloak with a large, radiant star-shaped insignia on his left shoulder, edged with white lace at the collar and cuffs. His left hand holds a pair of tan gloves, and a black hat adorned with a gold ornament sits on the table beside him.

The man’s gaze meets the viewer directly, his expression composed and reserved, with a single pearl earring visible in his left ear. Behind him, a heavy golden drapery falls in rich folds, its surface decorated with red and gold motifs that catch the light. The background is a deep, shadowy brown, setting off the pale tones of his face and the crisp white of his lace collar.

The artist uses smooth, blended brushstrokes for the face and hands, while the cloak and drapery are rendered with broader, more fluid movements. Subtle highlights on the folds of the cloak and the sheen of the star badge suggest the play of light across different textures. The composition places the figure slightly off-center, with his body angled and his head turned to engage the viewer. Fine details, such as the intricate lacework and the embroidery on the drapery, reveal the artist’s attention to luxury and status.

King Charles I (1600-1649) is painted by Anthony van Dyck in England during the 1630s. The work dates from between circa 1635 and circa 1637. It is a portrait of Charles I of England.

The National Trust holds this work at Ham House. The Art UK collection lists this painting among its records.