Triple Portrait of Henrietta Maria Triple Portrait of Henrietta Maria The Triple Portrait of Henrietta Maria is a 1638 painting by Antony van Dyck showing Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I of England. Charles had previously commissioned van Dyck to produce a triple portrait of himself to send to Italy so that Bernini could produce a bust of him. When the bust arrived, the queen ordered a bust of herself by Bernini and commissioned van Dyck to produce a similar triple portrait. The left-facing profile and full-on view are in the Royal Collection, whilst the right-facing profile is probably the portrait of the queen now
Henrietta Maria of France effectively taken over Buckingham's role as Charles's closest friend and advisor. Despite the ejection of the French staff in 1626, Charles's court was heavily influenced by French society; French was usually used in preference to English, being considered a more polite language. Additionally, Charles would regularly write letters to Henrietta Maria addressed "Dear Heart." These letters showcase the loving nature of their relationship. For example, on 11 January 1645 Charles wrote, "And dear Heart, thou canst not but be confident that there is no danger which I will not hazzard, or pains that I will not undergo, to enjoy the