Circle of Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 – London 1723)
Portrait of a gentleman in a garden
Oil on canvas
67 x 47 cm. - Framed 84 x 64 cm.
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The painting depicts a nobleman portrayed full-length and dressed in classical attire, with laced sandals, seated at the base of a stone fountain. He is immortalized in a lush garden with a vase overflowing with a rich floral bouquet and a terracotta pot containing a mandarin plant.
This is a type of portrait that was very popular among the nobility, especially the English, in the 17th and 18th centuries. The subjects liked to be depicted without their adornments, without pompous clothing, fashionable accessories, or elaborate hairstyles. This was to demonstrate that their status and worth did not depend solely on the material wealth displayed opulently.
In 17th and 18th century England, citrus trees like the one depicted were often grown in large pots, kept outdoors during the summer and transported back indoors to heated orangeries for the winter. Therefore, the inclusion of such fruit in this portrait is an indication of the man's wealth and social standing, given the great difficulties in cultivating it.
The painting should therefore be associated with an English painter active around the late 17th and early 18th centuries, particularly within the circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller, official painter to the English court and considered, along with Peter Lely and Willem Wissing, among the masters of English portraiture in 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 in British society and public life. These works, displayed in royal palaces, were so admired and appreciated by the public that they prompted a large number of patrons, mainly nobles, to commission his workshop for their family portraits.
Below, we mention some of his portraits which, like ours, feature members of the British high aristocracy immortalized in lush gardens, often accompanied by natural elements like flowers and plants instead of rich jewels and precious fabrics. Among these, for comparative purposes, are the portraits of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (1693), Countess Catherine of Dorchester (1685), John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter (1696), and further the portrait of James Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw38421/James-Cecil-5th-Earl-of-Salisbury).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is complete with a pleasant gilded frame and is sold with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee.
We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
It is also possible to view the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda; we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works.
In case of purchase of the work by non-Italian customers, an export permit will be required, which takes approximately 15/20 days. Our gallery will handle the entire process until its obtainment. All costs for this procedure are included.
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