The National Portrait Gallery in London has unveiled a 1626 portrait featuring two boys, one of whom is among the earliest known black sitters in English art. The painting, created by an unknown artist, depicts two 13-year-old boys, one identified as Prince Rupert, nephew of King Charles I, and the other of African heritage. The identity and background of the black sitter remain unknown.

The artwork has been housed at Penshurst Place in Kent since 1743 and is currently on loan to the London gallery until 2028. Gallery officials have enlisted the help of experts in 17th-century portraiture, conservators, and historians in a project aimed at establishing the identity of the black figure and understanding his connection to Prince Rupert.

The portrait's display at the National Portrait Gallery is part of an effort to engage visitors and challenge existing perceptions regarding the presence of people of African descent in Europe during the 17th century. The painting’s rare depiction offers important insight into the early visual representation of black individuals in Western art and highlights the complex social histories of the period.

While the sitter of African heritage remains unidentified, the gallery's ongoing research aims to shed new light on this figure’s role and status in English society of the early 1600s. The painting thus serves both as an artistic artifact and a focal point for broader discussions on race, identity, and historical narratives in Europe.