The interior is almost certainly imaginary (as opposed to being specifically of Whitehall Palace), although the event itself could have been witnessed by Houckgeest, who seems to have been at the English court sometime during the mid-1630s. Charles I owned several paintings by him, or ones in which he collaborated, and clearly admired perspective views of this type. During the reign of Queen Anne this painting was attributed to Jan van Belcamp (1610-53), who also worked in England and may have executed the figures here in a setting created by Houckgeest.

The royal party are seated at a table on the left and are attended by courtiers and servants. A buffet with a display of silver-gilt plate is in the right foreground with an elaborate wine cooler before it on the ground. Attendants carry dishes in and out of the hall through the arch on the right. Those admitted to see the royal family dining in public watch from behind the balustrade forming part of an interior archway in the centre background. Certain aspects of the architecture - the columns, the coffered ceiling, the archway, the overmantel - suggest that Houckgeest was using a print (or prints) as a source. There is a painting in the overmantel and on either side of the arch on the right are two large paintings landscapes.

The composition provides an interesting record of court etiquette. Public dining in state by the monarch was a frequent practice in the reign of James I, who liked elaborate spectacle and lavish entertainment, but his son Charles I was more private. Charles I rarely dined in public, and when he did so the display of silver-gilt ware was restricted. Unforeseen difficulties tended to arise, such as whether the Anglican or Catholic chaplains should say the prayers - the King was a Protestant, but his wife Henrietta Maria was a Catholic. The custom, with its full ritual, however, was revived by Charles II, who dined in public on three days a week.

Signed and dated over the doorway at the right: 'HOUCKG...[remainder of inscription illegible] / 1635'

Catalogue entry adapted from Enchanting the Eye: Dutch paintings of the Golden Age, London, 2004