Honthorst was a Dutch painter born and trained in Utrecht. His early career was spent in Rome, where he attained great success as a follower of Caravaggio. In 1620 he returned to Utrecht and largely abandoned religious themes in favour of Arcadian and domestic subjects and portraits. During this period Honthorst received a number of commissions from the exiled Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, sister of Charles I and through these became known to the English King. In 1628 he was invited to the English court and there painted a number of portraits of the Charles I and his Queen, as well as several leading courtiers.

This portrait must have been donated by the sitter to Charles I as part of an accepted process of diplomatic exchange between two rulers. Frederick Henry was the Dutch Governor (Stadholder) and hereditary Prince of Orange, but he wasn’t really ‘royal’, which is why the marriage in 1641 of his son, William II, to Charles I’s daughter, Mary, was so important. Though painted in 1631, this portrait may have been given later during negotiations for this wedding, at the same time as portraits of the sitter’s wife, Amalia van Solms, Princess of Orange (in the Royal Collection at the time of Queen Anne but subsequently disappeared) and son, William II (CW 80, 404406).

Everything about this image suggests a simple, heroic, military man, clutching a baton of command, resting his other hand on a helmet, wearing a breast-plate, riding boots and unpretentious outdoor costume. The Order of the Garter round his neck is the most courtly element.

On a small portion remaining of a cartellino applied in the time of Charles I, Inscribed:...ncipi / ...1631