Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

(Follower of) Anthony van Dyke
Portrait of a Gentleman in Armour and Holding a Baton, Manor House Provenence

circa 1635

About the Item

Titan Fine Art present this accomplished work, from Kilcooley Abbey, Co Tipperary, Ireland. It portrays a gentleman traditionally known as the English military commander and politician, Edward Cecil 1st Viscount Wimbledon (1572-1738). Depicted standing on a portico beside a large plinth and column he is shown wearing a suit of armour over a white ruff, and holding a symbol of power and office, a baton of command. Cecil served with the English forces several times, most notably during the War of the Jülich succession, when he commanded the British and Irish contingent of four thousand men serving under Prince Christian of Anhalt. The battle scene in the distance most likely represents The Siege of Jülich of 1610 after an Imperial force occupied the city of Jülich, a Dutch, Palatine, and Brandenburg army besieged the city, compelling the Imperials to surrender and withdraw. This was the first ever army flagged as British under the Union Flag. His heroic visage suitably reflects his wealth and status and the martial, almost imperial, image of the sitter is an interesting characterisation and was popular at the time. Most likely painted just after the sitter’s death in 1638 to commemorate his life, the body has been modelled on Van Dyke’s finest portrait of Charles I which was painted just a few years earlier in 1635/6. Van Dyke’s portrait became wildly popular and is still one of his most renowned works of the monarch today (very good period copies are in National Portrait Gallery, London, at Wilton House, Welbeck Abbey, Sudeley Castle, in the Musee de Versailles). The head itself was probably modelled from a known mezzotint of the sitter of 1618 by the engraver Simon de Passe (1595-1647). De Passe had settled in London in 1616 from Utrecht and established a successful engraving practice (mainly of portraits of the royal family, noblemen and scholars). This approach to creating a composition is not unusual. The painting is inscribed on the plinth: “Edward Cecil 3rd son of Thomas Earl of Exeter, Created Viscount Wimbledon, Great Grandfather to Albina, Present Marchioness of Lindsey”. Inscriptions such as this were commonly added to paintings both at the time the work was painted, but also later as a way to make a permanent record of the sitter’s identity. Albina Farington (1689-1745) held the title of Marshioness of Linsday between 1706 and 1715 as the wife of British statesman and nobleman Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven PC (1660-1723), 1st Marquess of Lindsey. Cecil was born into one of the most influential families in England, his grandfather (Sir William Cecil) and uncle (Robert Cecil) dominated the royal court for more than half a century. He was a dedicated soldier in the English forces. He led a cavalry troop at the battle of Nieuport in 1600, and in 1601, he commanded a thousand men in the relief of Spanish-besieged Ostend, earning him knighthood from Queen Elizabeth. In November 1625, he became Baron Cecil of Putney and Viscount Wimbledon, named after his Surrey residence, Wimbledon House. He maintained a prominent position in the military. Cecil had three marriages. His first, in 1601, was to Theodosia Noel, with whom he had five daughters. Following Theodosia's death, he wed Diana Drury in 1618 and they had a daughter who died as an infant. His third marriage was in 1635 to Sophia Zouche, and they had a son who also died in infancy. Cecil passed away in 1638 and is buried in the Cecil Chapel at St Mary's Church, Wimbledon. His titles expired with him. Sophia later married Sir Robert King and they had a daughter. This painting is evidence of the commensurate skill of the artist. The glistening armour has been painted with precision but the hands are most notable and are an exemplary artistic achievement. The ensuing battle in the distance imbues the portrait with a sense of movement and drama. It is safe to assume the work was painted in England due to its precise size which was, by the time of its creation, a very common size used in England. Held in a superb carved and gilded period frame. Anthony Van Dyck, a significant Flemish painter of the 17th century, held a position of prominence following Rubens. His artistic prowess was notably shaped by the impactful works of Rubens and various Italian artists he studied under. Van Dyck's career flourished in Antwerp and Italy where he excelled as a portraitist, in addition to creating intricate religious and mythological paintings. His skills extended beyond painting to include exceptional draftsmanship and etching. He is most renowned for his sophisticated depictions of Charles I and his court. He was born in Antwerp and began producing independent works around the age of 17, during 1615-16. By 1621, he was serving James I of England, a role he left for an extended stay in Italy, lasting until 1627. Following a second stint in the Netherlands, Van Dyck achieved even greater acclaim upon his return to the English court in 1632. His detailed and complimentary depictions of Charles I and his family established a new benchmark in English portraiture, creating a trend among court members. All of our paintings have been carefully selected and have been assessed by a professional conservator prior to going on sale. Thus, they are all in good condition and can be hung and enjoyed immediately. Provenance: Kilcooley Abbey
  • Creator:
    (Follower of) Anthony van Dyke (1599 - 1641, Flemish)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1635
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 56.7 in (144 cm)Width: 46.86 in (119 cm)Depth: 2.76 in (7 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    This painting has passed a strict quality and condition assessment by a professional conservator prior to going on sale. It can be hung and enjoyed immediately. A custom-made wood crate will be used for ultimate safety, for international shipping.
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1199114043432
More From This SellerView All
  • Portrait of Young Gentleman, Lord George Douglas, Arcadian Landscape c.1710
    Located in London, GB
    Portrait of Young Gentleman, Lord George Douglas, in an Arcadian Landscape c.1710 Attributed to Charles D'Agar (1669-1723) Depicted with bow in hand and situated against an Arcadian...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of Lady Anne Tipping née Cheke c.1705, English Aristocratic Collection
    By Kneller Godfrey
    Located in London, GB
    Titan Fine Art present this exquisite portrait, that formed part of a historic collection of an English aristocratic family, Lord and Lady Sandys at their magnificent baroque and Reg...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of a Gentleman in Armour and Mauve Cloak c.1740; Louis Tocque, Painting
    Located in London, GB
    The sitter in this superb portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, is shown with the grandiloquence characteristic of the eighteenth-century French school of painting. The young nobleman has been portrayed wearing an ingeniously embellished French ceremonial armour, a mauve cloak, and an abundance of cascading curls falling below his shoulders. Our portrait proclaims to every onlooker that this is a superior being. The manner in which portraits were painted was set out by the terms of the commission and usually marked significant life events such as a betrothal, a death, elevation of rank… but they almost always emphasised the wealth and importance of the sitter. This type of portrait had become a standard format for aristocratic portraiture in Europe during the last quarter of the seventeenth century up to the middle of eighteenth century. Incorporated into the background was often a raging battlefield or a military encampment; our portrait is free from these trappings and contains a dramatic moody sky ensures the viewer focuses mainly on the subject. The features of the sitter’s face have been captured with great sensitivity, his confident gaze perhaps reflecting the near invincibility afforded by this steel suit. The flamboyance and penetrating sense of character, lending an air of noble expectancy to the composition, seems almost eclipsed by the artist's virtuosic handling of paint. It is not hard to understand why many wealthy sitters commissioned the artist to paint their portraits. Such fine and ornate armour was not actually used on a battlefield and thus its portrayal in portraiture was largely symbolic of a sitter’s wealth and status as well as a claim of succession to a chivalrous tradition. The style of hair and neckcloth were fashionable circa 1740. Held in an exquisite eighteenth century carved and gilded frame - a fine work of art in itself. Louis Tocqué was a very successful French portrait painter active during the Rococo period of art. His work was known for its attention to detail, its portrayal of the character of the sitter, the refined postures, and the delicacy of the rendered draperies. He created both realistic and expressive portraits. Tocqué was born in Paris in 1696 and trained with the famous portrait painters Hyacinthe Rigaud, Nicolas Bertin, and Jean Marc Nattier whose daughter he later married. He entered the Academy in 1731 and became a full member in 1734 with his portraits of Galloche and the sculptor Jean Louis Lemoine, and he pursued a brilliant career as a portrait painter, receiving numerous commissions from members of the French aristocracy and royalty. His works were highly sought after by collectors of the time, and his reputation earned him the appointment of official portrait painter to the court of France in 1746 – in fact he stayed at most of the courts in northern Europe. From 1737 to 1759 he exhibited a large number of works at the Salon. Tocqué's paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world. Recent sales...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait Painting of Lady Mary Capel, Countess of Essex in a Yellow Dress c.1698
    By Sir Godfrey Kneller
    Located in London, GB
    This portrait depicts an elegant, aristocratic women wearing a yellow silk dress with white chemise and a red mantle elegantly draped around her body. By tradition the portrait represents Mary Capel, Countess of Essex. Born Lady Mary Bentinck in 1679, she was the daughter of William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland, a Dutch and English nobleman who became in an early stage the favourite of stadtholder William, Prince of Orange (the future King of England) and his wife Anne Villiers (died 1688). Lady Mary's maternal grandparents were Sir Edward Villiers and Lady Frances Howard...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Portrait of Gentleman in Lace Cravat & Armour 1680’s Painting, Fine Carved Frame
    By (circle of) Pierre Mignard
    Located in London, GB
    Titan Fine Art presents this portrait of a brave and chivalrous character. The gentleman has been depicted in armour, an elaborate full wig, and in accordance with the latest French fashion, an elaborate type of Venetian Gros point lace cravat and large silk bow (also called a cravat-string) – a type that were popular across Europe in the 1680’s. Point lace was fabulously expensive - a cravat was equivalent to six weeks income for a gentleman - and therefore indicative of a wearer's wealth and social class. A nobleman riding onto the battlefield would wear a lace cravat over his armour to demonstrate his status. The attire, along with the coat-of-arms, help to proclaim to every onlooker that the gentleman is a superior being. The depiction of the lace, apart from denoting the wealth of the sitter, was a deliberate way for the artist to demonstrate his own artistic ambition and technical skills Argent seasoned gule with three lozenges sable are those of the Crois family, who were minor nobility, originating from the Boulogne region in the north of France. The fact that the sitter is a high ranking noble excludes him as a member of the Crois family. As is so commonly the case, the coat of arms was a later addition, probably in the nineteenth century, by a family who sought to glorify their pedigree by adding their arms to the portrait. These arms are now an interesting part of the portraits history. The artist has captured a sense of the sitter’s character and the features of the sitter’s face have been rendered with great sensitivity. His confident gaze perhaps reflecting the near invincibility afforded by this steel suit. The work is a very good example of French portraiture from the period. Presented in an exquisite hand-carved and gilded seventeenth century frame - which is an exceptional work of art in itself. Pierre Mignard, known as le Romain, was a French painter of the court of the French King Louis XIV and was, with Charles Le Brun (1619-90), one of the most successful painters during the reign of Louis XIV. After training in Troyes, where he was born, and in Bourges, Mignard joined the studio of Simon Vouet in Paris in 1627. He went to Italy in 1636 and remained there until 1657. He studied the work of Correggio and Pietro da Cortona in Rome as well as copying Annibale Carracci's frescoes in the Palazzo Farnese. On Le Brun's death in 1690 he succeeded him as its Director and as First Painter to the King painting...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Portrait of a Lady, Marie-Madeleine de Chamillart, Oil on Canvas Painting
    Located in London, GB
    This work formed part of the collection of paintings and family heirlooms of Baron Hugues Alfred Frèdéric de Cabrol de Moute (1909-1997) and his wife, Baroness Marguerite (née d’Harcourt) de Cabrol de Moute (1915-2011). The couple had unimpeachable and enviable family backgrounds, and were descendants of ancient princelings; together they were one of the most prominent high-society couples of the twentieth century and counted the Duke of Duchess of Windsor amongst their closest friends. This portrait is that of Marie-Madeleine de Chamillart (died 28 May 1751) nee Nicolas de Lusse. She had a daughter, Anne, in 1692. In 1700 she married Clément Chamillart (1663-1708), President of the Accounts of the King's Chamber. The couple had a daughter, Madeleine (born 1701), who married Louis, the only son of Guillaume de Guitaut and Antoinette de Vertamont in 1719. Guillaume de Guitaut resided at Château d'Époisses in Burgundy France and his descendants still live today. A portrait of our sitter is still held at the Château. Clément Chamillart died in 1708 and our sitter remarried Jean-Baptiste de Johanne de la Carre (1678-1726), marquis de Saumery, maréchal de camp, in 1713. This marriage produced two daughters, Marguerite (died 1729) and Marie Madeleine (born 1720). Much of the beauty of this elegant portrait resides in its graceful composition – it is a fine example of French portraiture. Beautifully and meticulously rendered throughout, the sitter has been depicted three quarter length in an outdoor setting beside a potted orange tree. The lady is shown in a blue dress with silver detailed décolletage and large voluminous sleeves turned over to reveal elaborately detailed lining. The sumptuous fabrics convey a sense of wealth and prestige. The portrait is striking in its portrayal of the sumptuous fabrics and their decorative richness. The prominent sprig of orange blossom that she is holding is a traditional representation of marriage and eternal love in art, but it also alludes to youth and freshness, and by virtue of the great expense and difficulty with which it was often grown, to great wealth. In accordance with the sitter's age and the style of clothing and hair with the curls on the forehead, this portrait can be dated to the 1720s. Baron Hugues Alfred Frèdéric de Cabrol de Moute (1909-1997) was the son of Roger de Cabrol de Moute and Helen Mary de Lassence. He was one of the more engaging personages in that delightful social constellation of social figures who animated what has become known as "Cafe Society" which was international but inevitably most at home in Paris from the 1920's until the 1960's. He married Marguerite d'Harcourt (1915-2011), known as Daisy, in Paris in 1937, the only daughter of Étienne, Marquis d'Harcourt, and his wife, Marie de Curel. The Harcourt family belongs to the circle of the oldest families in France; the founder of the family, Bernard le Danois, received the seigniory of Harcourt in the tenth century, following the conquest of Normandy. In the 11th century, his descendants took part in the conquest of England alongside William the Conqueror. Later, the Harcourt family was divided into a French branch and an English branch, which successively received the titles of barons, viscounts, and counts. Marguerite "Daisy" Marie Brigitte Emmanuelle Ghislaine d'Harcourt, Baronne de Cabrol was one of the last survivors of twentieth century French high society. Through her mother, Daisy was a descendant of the great industrial family of Wendel, with iron and steel enterprises in Lorraine; she also descended from Nicolas Soult, one of Napoleon's Marshals and three times Prime Minister of France. The couple became friends of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1947, and were invited to the Chateau de la Croë, their rented house on Cap d'Antibes. There they found the exiled Windsors living in unusual post-war luxury, serving delicious food and providing fresh sheets every day. Daisy suspected that the Windsors were bored, but, having nothing else to do, were condemned to an endless round of social engagements. She and Fred were among the few allowed to see the Duchess laid out after her death in 1986. Daisy was a considerable hostess, giving a ball every year for her charity, L'Essor, to which le tout Paris would come. One of these, in 1954, was at the Palais des Glaces, in Paris (later used in the film Gigi), at which she entertained Charlie Chaplin, the Begum Aga Khan and the Windsors. According to Nancy Mitford...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like
  • Charles Jervas, Portrait of Joseph Mellish
    By Charles Jervas
    Located in London, GB
    Charles Jervas (1675-1739) Portrait of Joseph Mellish (1675-1733) Oil on canvas; held in a carved period frame Dimensions refer to size of frame. Provenance: Blyth Hall, Nottinghamshire, England; by descent to Sir Andrew Buchanan of Hodsock Priory, Nottinghamshire In 1635 John Mellish, a merchant tailor of London, bought the estate of Blyth in Nottinghamshire. His son, a wealthy Oporto merchant, dying unmarried, left Blyth in 1703 to a cousin, Joseph Mellish, who became one of Newcastle’s earliest and most important political supporters in the county. He went up to Clare College, Cambridge in 1692 and on to the Inner Temple the following year. He married Dorothea Gore, daughter of Sir William Gore...
    Category

    Early 18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Henry Pickering, Portrait of a Gentleman
    By Henry Pickering
    Located in London, GB
    Henry Pickering, Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on canvas; signed and dated 1759; held in a giltwood period frame Provenance: Lenygon & Morant Ltd. c.1900; Knoedler, October 1912 (Sto...
    Category

    Mid-18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Attributed to Cornelius de Neve, Portrait of John, Lord Belasyse
    Located in London, GB
    Attributed to Cornelius de Neve (circa 1612-1678) Portrait of John, Lord Belasyse (1614-1689) Oil on canvas; held in a period style carved polished wood frame. Dimensions refer to framed size. Cornelius de Neve, was born in Antwerp, possibly training under the Dutchman Mierveldt and settling in London by 1627. It has been suggested he possibly associated with Van Dyck, though his works show a strong debt to painting in England prior to his arrival, particularly John de Critz...
    Category

    Mid-17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850
    Located in Chicago, IL
    Painted in the 19th century, this exquisite miniature portrait wonderfully exemplifies realism in traditional oil painting. The small artwork is painted in the conventional portraiture style of the Old Masters, and achieves soft realism with fine brushwork and a subdued, neutral palette. The half length portrait depicts a fine Victorian woman dressed in all black with a delicate lace collar and bonnet. She wears a ruby broach...
    Category

    Mid-19th Century Old Masters More Art

    Materials

    Oil

  • Audrey 6. Celebrity lavender lime pop-art portrait of iconic Audrey Hepburn
    By Oksana Tanasiv
    Located in Norwalk, CT
    Audrey Hepburn 6 is original oil on canvas created by Oksana Tanasiv in 2022. The size of canvas 30"X40". The artist captured iconic celebrity's seductive look who is holding her s...
    Category

    2010s Pop Art Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • Young Harlequin
    By Armando Gentilini
    Located in San Francisco, CA
    Midcentury harlequin painting by listed Italian artist Armando Gentilini, (1908-1981). This beautiful doe-eyed harlequin will brighten up any contemporary interior. This is an exce...
    Category

    Mid-20th Century Expressionist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All