The work is inspired by the same painting painted by Anthony Van Dyck in about 1636 and kept at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
William Laud (1573-1645) was an important religious and political adviser during the reign of Charles I. During his archbishopric he tried to implement reforms that were in stark contrast to the Puritan Protestant practices. Considered one of the key instigators of the conflict between the monarchy and parliament, he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and executed.