Sir Jeffrey Hudson (1619 – 1682)

after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641). Oil painting on canvas, Sir Jeffrey Hudson (1619 – 1682) after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641). A full-length portrait, standing on a terrace, wearing a plum, coloured dress, a monkey on his shoulder. Derived from probable original, Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669) and Jeffery Hudson (1619-1682), her dwarf, National Gallery of Art, Washington. Queen Henrietta Maria's dwarf, he was the son of a butcher at Oakham. He was 18ins high till 30 years of age and then grew to 42-45 ins high. He came to the notice of the Duchess of Buckingham who served him up in a pie at dinner to Charles I and Henrietta Maria. He was eventually placed in the service of Henrietta Maria. He became captain of horse during the Civil Wars and went to Paris in 1649. He was captured by pirates while off the coast of France and carried to Barbary as a slave. He eventually escaped and returned to England. He was later imprisoned for supposed complicity in the 'Popish Plot' but was released in 1679. Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire (Accredited Museum)