Thomas and Aletheia Arundel with grandchildren, Philip Fruytiers, circa 1643

Thomas and aletheia, earl and countess of arundel, with six of their grandchildren and a dwarf servant. On vellum by fruytiers after a design by van dyck. Circa 1643. At one time in the collection of the lord stafford at costessy park, norwich currently arunedel castle, norfolk (or its copy?) the arundel family, after van dyck; thomas howard, 2nd earl arundel, sitting beside his countess on a dias to left, wearing ermine trimmed robes and collars, he holding a baton in his right hand, looking at his wife as he take a sword presented to him by his grandson with the other; a young girl standing beside the countess, the other grandchildren following their brother, carrying the other pieces of the earl's armour, a servant on the far right turning to quiet a barking dog; with portraits of two ancestors on the wall behind and a view of parkland and the city of antwerp visible through an archway on the right. Date: circa 1643.