Artwork

Double portrait of Thomas Howard, duke of Arundel and duchess Alethea Talbot

Double portrait of Thomas Howard, duke of Arundel and duchess Alethea Talbot is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The oil painting presents Thomas Howard, Duke of Arundel, alongside his wife Alethea Talbot.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Their status as leading collectors of antiquity and patrons of the arts is emphasized through their attire and the intimate domestic setting.

The double portrait shows Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, alongside his wife Alethea Howard, Countess of Arundel. Their status as leading collectors of antiquity and patrons of the arts is emphasized through their attire and the intimate domestic setting. The composition reflects the early Baroque interest in aristocratic identity and dynastic alliance, using subtle gestures and clothing to convey both personal affection and political prestige.

The work belongs to the workshop of Anthonis van Dyck and is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it is displayed as a representative example of 17th‑century portraiture that blends realism with symbolic representation of noble lineage.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1640, this double portrait is an oil painting on canvas attributed to the workshop of Anthonis van Dyck. The work measures 124 cm in height and 202 cm in width, presenting a large-scale formal composition. As a portrait genre piece, it depicts Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, alongside his wife, Alethea Howard.

The artwork serves as a derivative based on the earlier Madagascar Portrait of the couple, adapting the original composition into this specific medium and support. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

History & Provenance

The double portrait of Thomas Howard, Duke of Arundel, and his wife Alethea Talbot was created around 1640, as indicated by both the artwork’s date and its inception year. It was produced in the workshop of Anthony van Dyck and is based on an earlier likeness known as the Madagascar Portrait of the couple. The painting is executed in oil on canvas and measures approximately 124 cm by 202 cm. Today it resides in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it has been housed since at least the time of the museum’s acquisition recorded in the source material.

The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Its inventory number is not specified in the provided sources. It has been exhibited as part of a painting workshop of Anthonis van Dyck, which is documented in its Wikidata entry.

Overview

The oil painting presents Thomas Howard, Duke of Arundel, alongside his wife Alethea Talbot. Both figures are rendered in elaborate 17th‑century attire; the duke wears a red robe, gold chain and holds a globe and staff, while the duchess is adorned with a pearl necklace and a black‑gold bracelet. A dark, cloud‑filled sky forms the backdrop, and two smaller attendants appear in the distance.