Hearing of the great encouragement extended to the arts by Charles I.,
he determined to visit England in 1629. While there, he lodged with his
friend and countryman, George Geldorp the painter, and expected to be
presented to the king; but his hopes not being realized, he visited
Paris; and meeting no better success there, be returned to his own
country, with the intention of remaining there during the rest of his
life. Charles, however, having seen a portrait by Vandyck, of the
musician, Fic. Laniere, director of the music of the king's chapel,
requested Sir Kenelm Digby to invite him to return to England.
Accordingly, in 1631, he arrived a second time at London, and was
received by the king in a flattering manner. He was lodged at
Blackfriars, among the King's artists, where his majesty frequently went
to sit for his portrait, as well as to enjoy the society of the painter.
The honor of knighthood was conferred upon him in 1632, and the
following year he was appointed painter to the king, with an annuity of
£200.
Prosperity now flowed in upon the Fleming in abundance, and although he
operated with the greatest industry and facility, painting single
portraits in one day, he could hardly fulfill all his commissions.
Naturally fond of display, he kept a splendid establishment, and his
sumptuous table was frequented by persons of the highest distinction.
He often detained his sitters to dinner, where he had an opportunity to
observe more of their peculiar characteristics, and retouched their
pictures in the afternoon. Notwithstanding his distinguished success, he
does not appear to have been satisfied with eminence in portrait
painting; and not long after his marriage with Maria Ruthven,
granddaughter of Lord Gowrie, he went to Antwerp with his lady, on a
visit to his family and friends, and thence proceeded to Paris. The fame
which Rubens had acquired by his celebrated performances at the
Luxembourg, rendered Vandyck desirous to execute the decorations at the
Louvre; but on arriving at the French capital, he found the commission
disposed of to Nicholas Poussin. He soon returned to England, and being
still desirous of executing some great work, proposed to the king
through Sir Kenelm Digby, to decorate the walls of the Banqueting House
(of which the ceiling was already adorned by Rubens), with the History
and Progress of the Order of the Garter. The sum demanded was £8000, and
while the king was treating with him for a less amount, the project was
terminated by the death of Vandyck, December 9th, 1641, aged 42 years.
He was buried with extraordinary honors in St. Paul's cathedral. His
high living had brought on the gout during his latter years, and luxury
had considerably reduced his fortune, which he endeavored to repair by
the study of alchemy. He left property amounting to about £20,000. In
his private character, Vandyck was universally esteemed for the urbanity
of his manners, and his generous patronage to all who excelled in any
science or art, many of whose portraits he painted gratuitously.