Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712) politician

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

This portrait was presented to Downing Street by the political writer Amabel Hume-Campbell (née Lady Amabel Yorke), Countess De Grey (1751-1833) of Wrest House in Bedfordshire, in 1827. At the time the Countess's nephew, Frederick John Robinson, first Viscount Goderich (1782-1859), was Chancellor of the Exchequer and so had a residence in Downing Street. Goderich would later briefly serve as Prime Minister, from August 1827~to January 1828.

This portrait has been reduced from its original size, as proved by an inscription in gold paint along the bottom of the canvas, which is now partially beneath the stretcher and hidden by the frame. It reads: THE EARL OF GODOLPHIN PRESENTED BY THE COUNTESS DE GREY

Godfrey Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He moved to Amsterdam in 1662 to study painting under Rembrandt and Ferdinand Bol. He later trained with Gianlorenzo Bernini and Carlo Maratta in Rome. He returned to Lübeck in 1675, before moving to Hamburg and then to London to study the works of van Dyck. In England he received commissions from prominent figures, including Charles II. Charles sent Kneller to France in 1684, to paint the portrait of Louis XIV. Kneller maintained his position at court after the accession of James II in 1685 and, when William and Mary came to the throne, he and portraitist John Riley became joint Principal Painters to the Crown. Following Riley’s death, Kneller alone retained the position. He was 77 when he died.

People

Sidney, 1st Earl of Godolphin Godolphin (1645 - 1712)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, man, 18th century costume, coat, lace jabot, riband, financier, staff of office, Order of the Garter, Earl, Lord High Treasurer

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir Godfrey, (after) Kneller

Title

Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712) politician

Date

1705-1712

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 86.50 cm, width: 71.00 cm

Acquisition

Presented by Countess de Grey, 1827

Inscription

Along top of canvas (now hidden by frame and wrapped around stretcher): THE EARL OF GODOLPHIN PRESENTED BY THE COUNTESS DE GREY

Provenance

Collection of political writer Amabel Hume-Campbell (née Lady Amabel Yorke), Countess De Grey (1751-1833) of Wrest House in Bedfordshire; by whom presented for the Downing Street Collection in 1827

GAC number

0/26