Sir John Astley (1565-1639)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1630 - 1639
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
980 x 900 mm (38 1/2 x 35 1/2 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276694
Caption
This sitter was the eldest son of Sir John Astley (1506 – 1595) of Maidstone in Kent (his portrait is also at Seaton Delaval), by his second wife, Margaret Lenton, illegitimate daughter of Lord Thomas Grey (brother of Lady Jane Grey). Astley was Master of the Revels to James I and Charles I. This role involved overseeing royal festivities, the supervision of all kinds of public entertainment, as well as the reading and licensing of plays. Astley was the only Master of the Revels who participated as a performer. He danced as a costumed masquer in Hymenael in January 1606, and in Lord Hay’s Masque in January 1607. He was knighted in 1603. Given his white hair and beard, this portrait must have been painted towards the end of his life.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Sir John Astley (1565-1639), English School, inscribed, at top, in large white flowing script: Sr.. John Astley of Maidstone Kent, 1630s. A three-quarter-length portrait, facing, left hand on hip, wearing a white slashed tunic with a crimson bow and crimson trousers.
Full description
Eldest son of Sir John Astley (1506 – 1595) of Maidstone in Kent (his portrait also at Seaton Delaval; 1276682), by his second wife, Margaret Lenton (1551-1601), illegitimate daughter of Lord Thomas Grey (d.1554, brother of Lady Jane Grey). Astley was Master of the Revels to James I and Charles I. This role involved overseeing royal festivities, the supervision of all kinds of public entertainment, as well as the reading and licensing of plays. Astley was the only Master of the Revels who participated as a performer. He danced as a costumed masquer in Hymenael in January 1606, and in Lord Hay’s Masque in January 1607. He was knighted in 1603. This portrait is of surprising naivete for someone at court and of partly exalted noble lineage, and the use of panel is very old-fashioned for its date: did Sir John relinquish his post of Master of the Revels and retire to Kent, where this might have been painted? Or is it of someone else altogether, and only later inscribed with his name?
Provenance
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009
Credit line
Seaton Delaval, The Hastings Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Top, in large, white flowing script: Sr.. John Astley of Maidstone Kent, Master of yr: jenrell office Top of painting: Mr John Astley, mr of hir Ma ts Femelhouse, Anno D mi 1594 Label on back in paper: Sir John Astley, Rnt of Maidstone (…) 1956 No3 1918 catalogue written in pen on paper label, water damage. Upper left verso: 10
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist