Van Dyck at Palazzo Ducale: portrait of Charles I's children joins the

Van Dyck at Palazzo Ducale: portrait of Charles I’s children on display

The Van Dyck retrospective at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa has welcomed an important loan: the Portrait of the three eldest children of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria, painted in 1635 and on loan from the Musei Reali in Turin (Galleria Sabauda).

The painting is installed at the beginning of the sixth gallery, next to portraits of the parents, and offers a direct comparison with portraits of young members of the Genoese aristocracy displayed in the previous room. The three children—Charles, Mary and James—are depicted with traditional symbolic elements that convey loyalty, purity and innocence, illustrating Van Dyck’s ability to adapt his portrait language to different social contexts and patrons.

The exhibition features around 60 paintings across ten thematic sections and has surpassed 30,000 visitors. Works are on loan from major European institutions including the Louvre, the Prado, the National Gallery and leading Italian collections.

Practical information

• Venue: Palazzo Ducale, Genoa
• Featured work: Portrait of the three eldest children of Charles I (1635), Musei Reali, Turin - Galleria Sabauda
• Exhibition closing date: 19 July 2026
• Opening hours:
  • Monday: 14:00 - 19:00
  • Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 - 19:00
  • Friday: 10:00 - 20:00

The curators aimed to juxtapose similar subjects interpreted in different social and cultural milieus to highlight Van Dyck’s stylistic choices and symbolic details. For the latest updates on loans, programming or timetable changes, consult the official Palazzo Ducale website.