Philippe-François, 1st Duke of Arenberg and Duke of Arschot and Croy (1625 - 1674), was an important figure at the court of Brussels. The outrider wears his colours of yellow and red. Nobility travelled in style: the Duke is seen here in his coach pulled by six horses, taking the salute from the leader of a troop of horsemen. The Duke's father assembled a remarkable collection of antiquities.

As well as painting travel scenes and battles, van der Meulen designed tapestries for the Gobelins factory and was also a printmaker.