Circle of François de Troy (Toulouse 1645-1730 Paris)

Portrait of an officer, possibly James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick (1670-1734), three-quarter-length, in armour with the Garter ribbon, an ermine lined cloak, a sash around his waist, holding baton in his right hand, a plumed helmet on a rock to his right, in a landscape

Details

Circle of François de Troy (Toulouse 1645-1730 Paris)
Portrait of an officer, possibly James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick (1670-1734), three-quarter-length, in armour with the Garter ribbon, an ermine lined cloak, a sash around his waist, holding baton in his right hand, a plumed helmet on a rock to his right, in a landscape
oil on canvas
50 x 40 in. (127 x 101.6 cm.)

Literature

Cowdray Park Catalogue, London, 1919, p. 6, no. 24, as 'Hyacinthe Rigaud' 'The Duke of Ormonde' (in the Buck Hall).
C. Anson, A Catalogue of Pictures and Drawings in the Collection of The Viscount Cowdray, London, 1971, p. 30, no. 89, as 'School of Rigaud' 'James, 2nd Duke of Ormonde' (in the West Gallery).

Sale room notice

Please note that the image is reversed.

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Lot Essay

Traditionally identified as James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde (1665-1745), it has been suggested more recently that this portrait may depict James Fitzjames, Duke of Berwick upon Tweed, army officer in the French service, illegitimate son of James, Duke of York, later James II, and Arabella Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston Churchill. This suggestion would certainly appear plausible when this portrait is compared with other portraits of the sitter recorded in the National Portrait Gallery's photographic archive, including a portrait in the collection of the Earl of Rosebery, at Dalmeny.

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