Sir William Compton (1625-1663)
Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1650 - 1659
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1232 x 991 mm (48 1/2 x 39 in)
Order this imageCollection
Ham House, Surrey
NT 1139946
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir William Compton (1625-1663) by Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), monogrammed on rustic pier at left, mid height: PL, 1650s. Inscription (utterly painted out, top left): Sir WilliamCompton. A three-quarter length portrait, standing turned slightly to the right, head and eyes turned to left; his right arm akimbo, his left hand on sword-hilt; long dark hair, broad eyebrows, brown eyes; a thin, dark moustache on upper lip; wearing turn-down collar, breastplate over a buff coat with embroidered slashed sleeves, and a maroon satin sash; on the left, a masonry wall, on the right a landscape under a stormy grey sky; lit from the right. Brother of Sir Charles and like him distinguished Cavalier commander. He was the second husband of Elizabeth, sister of Sir Lionel Tollemache 3rd Baronet, the Duchess's first husband. There is another version in the National Portrait Gallery.
Provenance
In 1677, 1679, 1683, 1727 and c.1820 inventories and thence by descent until acquired in 1948 by HM Government when Sir Lyonel, 4th Bt (1854 – 1952) and Sir Cecil Tollemache, 5th Bt (1886 – 1969) presented Ham House to the National Trust, and entrusted to the care of the Victoria & Albert Museum, until 1990, when returned to the care of the National Trust, and to which ownership was transferred in 2002
Credit line
Ham House, The Dysart Collection (purchased by HM Government in 1948 and transferred to the National Trust in 2002)
Makers and roles
Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist
