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Lot Essay
PROFESSOR J. DOUGLAS STEWART HAS, ON THE BASIS OF PHOTOGRAPHS, KINDLY CONFIRMED THAT IN HIS OPINION, THIS PICTURE IS KNELLER'S ORIGINAL PORTRAIT OF CHARLES FITZROY WHEN LORD EUSTON. UNTIL NOW, THE PROTOTYPE WAS KNOWN ONLY THROUGH THE JOHN SMITH MEZZOTINT OF 1689, COPIES, AND A VARIANT SOLD AT SOTHEBY'S ON 19 FEBRUARY 1964 FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE EARL OF HARRINGTON OF ELVASTON CASTLE. THE PICTURE WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REDUCED FROM THE STANDARD 50 X 40 INCHES. THIS IS INDICATED BY THE LOSS OF SOME OF THE COMPOSITION ON ALL SIDES, INCLUDING THE CUTTING OF THE PARROT'S TAIL ON THE LEFT AND THE ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL IN THE BACKGROUND ON THE RIGHT. THE LOSS AT THE BOTTOM MAY HAVE INCLUDED A SIGNATURE, SINCE ACCORDING TO THE SMITH MEZZOTINT, THE PAINTING WAS SIGNED AND DATED 1685.
THE SITTER WAS THE ONLY SON AND HEIR OF HENRY FITZROY, 1ST DUKE OF GRAFTON, ILLEGITIMATE SON OF KING CHARLES II AND BARBARA VILLIERS, DUCHESS OF CLEVELAND, WHO HAD MARRIED LADY ISABELLA BENNET, DAUGHTER AND HEIR OF HENRY BENNET, 1ST EARL OF ARLINGTON AND HIS WIFE ISABELLA DE NASSAU, BEFORE THE ROYAL COURT IN 1672. THE 2ND DUKE OF GRAFTON, SUCCEEDED HIS FATHER IN 1690 AND ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1703. GRAFTON WAS HELD IN HIGH REGARD BY KING GEORGE II, WAS APPOINTED LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND IN 1720 AND SERVED AS LORD CHAMBERLAIN BETWEEN 1724-57. HE WAS A KEEN HUNTSMAN AND DIED, FOLLOWING A FALL AT THE AGE OF SEVENTY. HE SAT AGAIN TO KNELLER CIRCA 1703 (NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, NO. 3210) AND LATER TO WILLIAM HOARE, JEAN BAPTISTE VAN LOO AND SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE PAINTED AT LEAST FOUR PORTRAITS OF HIM.
IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE PRESENT PORTRAIT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE SITTER'S MOTHER, ISABELLA, DUCHESS OF GRAFTON, WHO WAS ONE OF KNELLER'S EARLY AND MOST IMPORTANT PATRONS. SHE SAT TO KNELLER NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS ONE OF THE HAMPTON COURT 'BEAUTIES' PAINTED FOR QUEEN MARY IN 1690. KNELLER'S MOST IMPRESSIVE PORTRAIT OF ISABELLA, DUCHESS OF GRAFTON, SIGNED AND DATED 1692, INCLUDES HER SON AND SHOWS THEM MOURNING THE DEATH OF THE 1ST DUKE, WHO WAS KILLED AT THE SIEGE OF CORK IN 1690 (EUSTON HALL, DUKE OF GRAFTON).
THE SITTER WAS THE ONLY SON AND HEIR OF HENRY FITZROY, 1ST DUKE OF GRAFTON, ILLEGITIMATE SON OF KING CHARLES II AND BARBARA VILLIERS, DUCHESS OF CLEVELAND, WHO HAD MARRIED LADY ISABELLA BENNET, DAUGHTER AND HEIR OF HENRY BENNET, 1ST EARL OF ARLINGTON AND HIS WIFE ISABELLA DE NASSAU, BEFORE THE ROYAL COURT IN 1672. THE 2ND DUKE OF GRAFTON, SUCCEEDED HIS FATHER IN 1690 AND ENTERED THE ARMY IN 1703. GRAFTON WAS HELD IN HIGH REGARD BY KING GEORGE II, WAS APPOINTED LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND IN 1720 AND SERVED AS LORD CHAMBERLAIN BETWEEN 1724-57. HE WAS A KEEN HUNTSMAN AND DIED, FOLLOWING A FALL AT THE AGE OF SEVENTY. HE SAT AGAIN TO KNELLER CIRCA 1703 (NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON, NO. 3210) AND LATER TO WILLIAM HOARE, JEAN BAPTISTE VAN LOO AND SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS WHO IS KNOWN TO HAVE PAINTED AT LEAST FOUR PORTRAITS OF HIM.
IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE PRESENT PORTRAIT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE SITTER'S MOTHER, ISABELLA, DUCHESS OF GRAFTON, WHO WAS ONE OF KNELLER'S EARLY AND MOST IMPORTANT PATRONS. SHE SAT TO KNELLER NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS ONE OF THE HAMPTON COURT 'BEAUTIES' PAINTED FOR QUEEN MARY IN 1690. KNELLER'S MOST IMPRESSIVE PORTRAIT OF ISABELLA, DUCHESS OF GRAFTON, SIGNED AND DATED 1692, INCLUDES HER SON AND SHOWS THEM MOURNING THE DEATH OF THE 1ST DUKE, WHO WAS KILLED AT THE SIEGE OF CORK IN 1690 (EUSTON HALL, DUKE OF GRAFTON).