Equestrian portrait of Henry IV in armour before a city, by Marin le Bourgeoys (c. 1550-1634)
Arquebus maker for Henry IV and then Louis XIII and inventor of the flintlock mechanism widely used in Europe, Marin le Bourgeoys (c.1550-1634) also received training as a painter. He painted this equestrian portrait of Henry IV, which is characterised by its lack of pomp. The king is shown here with his regular countryside equipment in blackened armour and his horse harnessed without ostentation.