Portrait of Charles de Chantecler

Frans Pourbus the Younger mainly painted portraits and initially worked as court painter for the Brussels-based Spanish Regents of the Netherlands; in 1600 he moved to Mantua to work for Vicenzo Gonzage, Duke of Mantua. In 1609 Pourbus moved from Mantua to Paris and worked there as court painter for Maria de Medici, Queen of France until his death in 1622. During this last period Pourbus received many commissions, including the present portrait of Charles de Chantecler painted in 1613 when De Chantecler was 70 years old and conseiller (counsel) to the Queen.