Circle of Godfrey Kneller, Portrait of a Gentleman, 1600s, Oil on Canvas, Framed

Details

Description

Godfrey kneller (lübeck 1646 – london 1723) circle of
portrait of a gentleman in a garden

oil on canvas

67 … Read more Godfrey kneller (lübeck 1646 – london 1723) circle of
portrait of a gentleman in a garden

oil on canvas

67 x 47 cm. - framed 84 x 64 cm.

the painting depicts a nobleman portrayed full-length and dressed in classical clothes, braided sandals and sitting at the base of a stone fountain; he is immortalized in a lush garden with a vase filled with a rich bouquet of flowers and a terracotta vase containing a mandarin plant.

this is a type of portrait very common among the nobility, especially english, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, where the portrayed loved to admire himself stripped of his frills, without pompous clothes, fashionable accessories or elaborate hairstyles, this to demonstrate that his status and value did not depend solely on the material wealth displayed with opulence.

in 17th and 18th century england, citrus trees like the one depicted were often grown in large pots, kept outside during the summer, and brought back inside to heated orangeries for the winter. So the inclusion of such fruit in this portrait is an indication of the man's wealth and social status, given the great difficulty with which it was grown.

the painting should therefore be associated with an english painter active between the 17th and 18th centuries, orbiting in particular in the circle of sir godfrey kneller, official painter to the english court and considered, together with peter lely and willem wissing, among the masters of english portraiture between the 17th and 18th centuries.

he painted every reigning british monarch, from king charles ii to george i, as well as the most important figures of british society and public life. These works, exhibited in royal palaces, were admired and so appreciated by the public, that they induced a large group of clients, mainly nobles, to want his workshop to take care of their family portraits.

below we mention some of his portraits, which like ours show some members of the british high aristocracy immortalized in lush gardens often accompanied by natural elements such as flowers and plants instead of rich jewels and precious fabrics. Among these, for comparison, the portrait of prince william, duke of gloucester (1693), countess catherine of dorchester (1685), john cecil fifth earl of exter (1696), and also the portrait of james cecil, earl of salisbury.

additional information:

the work is complete with a pleasant golden frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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