As it was, he paid him far less than he had paid his inferior predecessors, but Van Dyck continued to paint for him to the end, and by Heaven's mercy died himself before the crash came, which overthrew Charles and scattered his collection.
Between the years 1632 and 1642, Van Dyck painted a great number of portraits of the King.

It is from these that we obtain our vivid idea of the first Charles's gentleness and refinement.

He has a sad look, as though the world were too much for him and he had fallen upon evil days.

We can see him year by year looking sadder, but Van Dyck makes the sadness only emphasize the distinction.
Queen Henrietta Maria was painted even more often than the King.

She is always dressed in some bright shimmering satin; sometimes in yellow, like the sleeve of William II.'s dress, sometimes in the purest white.
She looks very lovely in the pictures, but lovelier still are the groups of her children.