Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599 - 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist. At the age of fifteen, he was already an accomplished artist. Sir Peter Paul Rubens referred to Van Dyck as "the best of my pupils". His religious and mythological scenes influenced generations of artists to date.
Van Dyke met great success in Europe as a leading court painter in England. King Charles I, knighted him as "principalle Paynter in Ordinary to their Majesties.'