Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1630-1673) Statesman

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

The politician Thomas Clifford is depicted dressed in the full grandeur of his peer’s robes of red velvet and ermine, and holds a staff. Behind him a mustard coloured silk curtain is draped in front of a column. Beyond the column, an English landscape and the distant glow of a sunset can be seen.

This portrait was commissioned from the artist by the sitter, who presented it to the politician and government official Sir John Duncombe (c.1622-1687). It is not known how or when it entered the collection at Downing Street. However, Sir George Scharf, first Director of the National Portrait Gallery, viewed it at No. 10 Downing Street in March 1879. Scharf gave an enthusiastic appraisal of the painting in his later article on Lely’s portraits of Thomas Clifford, published in ‘The Athenaeum’: ‘The picture is in itself an excellent one, a genuine Lely, and evidently painted from the life.’

Peter Lely was born in Westphalia in Germany. He studied in Haarlem under Pieter de Grebber, becoming a Master of the Haarlem Guild in 1637. He relocated to England in 1641, where he succeeded Sir Antony Van Dyck as Principal Painter to Charles II. Lely presided over a large studio and employed several assistants. He frequently painted only the head of the sitter himself, before passing the work to an assistant to complete. The work of his assistants is often mistakenly attributed to Lely himself. He was knighted in 1680, shortly before his death that year. At the time of his death, over 100 canvases remained in his studio, many copies executed by assistants. His assistants also produced independent work in the style of their master.

People

Thomas, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh Clifford (1630 - 1673)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, moustache, man, 17th century costume, ceremonial costume, robe, wig, collar, fur, staff of office, Baron, Lord High Treasurer, diplomat, sword, curtain

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir Peter Lely (1618 - 1680)

Title

Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (1630-1673) Statesman

Date

c.1672

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 127.50 cm, width: 101.50 cm

Acquisition

Origin uncertain

Inscription

none

Provenance

Commissioned from the artist by the sitter for Sir John Duncombe (c.1622-1687) politician and government official at a cost of £30; located at 10 Downing Street by 1879

GAC number

0/118