BARTHOLOMEUS VAN BASSEN (ANTWERP C.1590-THE HAGUE 1652)
The King and Queen of Bohemia dining in Public
c.1634RCIN 402967
This is an imaginary scene showing the Prague court of the ‘Winter King’, Frederick V (1596–1632). It was probably painted during his Dutch exile and perhaps for his brother-in-law, Charles I. It shows the royal ceremony of public dining with a touch of comedy in the pet monkey who assaults the courtier while he carves.