After Daniel Mytens

Probably comissioned by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby (1647–1721) to hang at Buckingham House which he built between 1703 and 1705;
By descent to Edmund Sheffield, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Normanby (1716–1735);
By inheritance to Sir Charles Sheffield, 1st Bt. (circa 1706–1774), his half brother, who inherited the Buckingham estates under the will of the 1st Duke and sold Buckingham House to George III in 1762;
Thence by descent at Normanby Park, Lincolnshire to Sir Berkeley Sheffield, 6th Bt. (1876–1946);
His sale, London, Christie's, 16 July 1943, lot 92, for £178.10 to Spink(?);
Helen Needham;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 8 May 1946, lot 76, to her nephew, a descendant of the Dukes of Buckingham and father of the present owner for £260 . 

D. Piper, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery 1625–1714, Cambridge 1963, p. 61 (as a version of the portrait in the National Portrait Gallery);
O. ter Kuile, 'Daniel Mijtens: His Majesties Picture-Drawer', Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, vol. 20, 1969 (as a copy of the portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). 

The canvas has a firm relining. There is an area of blistering in the upper right of the curtain. There paint surface of the table on which the crown sits has suffered but is now stable and has been retouched. There are other small areas of distinctive cracquelure in the darker tones but otherwise the paint surface is stable and well preserved. There are only small strenghtenings in the face, and other minor scattered localised retouchings throughout.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Mytens came to England in 1618 and worked initially for the Earl of Arundel. He was patronized by James I and on his accession, Charles I appointed him ‘one of our patrie-drawers’ for life. Until van Dyck’s arrival in 1632 he had a busy career painting for the court. The portrait of the King in a scarlet tunic appears to be the one referred to in three documents for the royal accounts from 1630 and 1631. The prime version is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and is signed and dated 1639. This portrait probably hung at Buckingham House, built by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham between 1703 and 1705 from a design executed by William Winde. The house was eventually sold to George III in 1761 and within eighty years was being used as the principal royal residence.