Van Dyck, Charles I at the Hunt, ca. 1635 Anthony Van Dyck was the greatest of Rubens’s many students. In 1633 he became court painter to Charles I. This portrait of Charles just dismounted from a horse emphasizes the aristocratic bearing, elegance, and innate authority of the king. Van Dyck’s success led to innumerable commissions by members of the court and aristocratic society. He had a profound influence on portraiture in England and beyond; some scholars believe that this portrait influenced Rigaud’s 1701 portrayal of Louis XIV. (Louvre, Paris, France/Giraudon/The Bridgeman Art Library)